Surprise economic support measures, set against the backdrop of Greece’s 2024 budget surplus exceeding expectations, are expected to be announced today by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

According to cross-verified sources from protothema.gr — and as first hinted at by the “dark-room” column — the announcements will be made personally by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The same sources indicate that the surplus overperformance may significantly exceed €500 million. This allows for the distribution of a “social dividend,” in accordance with EU fiscal rules, as it does not count against the current year’s figures.

The funds, which may have originated from various sources (e.g., from overperformance in revenue collections such as from curbing tax evasion), are expected to be distributed to crucial social groups — with particular attention to the middle class.

Focus on Youth and the Self-Employed

In his effort to revitalize New Democracy (ND), Mr. Mitsotakis is focusing on two major demographic groups where ND’s recent losses have been more pronounced:

• Self-employed professionals, who have been significantly impacted by the implementation of presumptive income taxation,
• Young people, especially after the Tempi train tragedy, which deeply affected public sentiment.

Starting with the latter, the Prime Minister is placing housing policy at the forefront of his next steps, particularly because younger generations own homes far less than previous ones. Depending on fiscal room, a targeted measure related to rent costs may be introduced — possibly around the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

As for self-employed workers, government sources remind the public that the so-called “presumptive living expenses” (τεκμήρια διαβίωσης) will be abolished by the end of 2027. Meanwhile, in this year’s tax filings, both freelancers and contract-based workers (“μπλοκάκια”) will benefit from the abolition of the business activity fee (τέλος επιτηδεύματος).