Data proving that it is a “lie that Greece has the most expensive electricity in the EU,” and that instead it “has tariffs cheaper than the European average,” were presented by Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his first response to Nikos Androulakis’ question on energy.

At the same time, he criticized the president of PASOK for insisting on lignite, telling him: “What you are proposing, Mr. Androulakis, is that the country should pay more expensive electricity than it pays today.”

“I understand exaggeration as part of your opposition zeal, but I do not accept that you distort the facts,” the Prime Minister also said to Mr. Androulakis.

He also clarified that ADMIE will not be privatized, stressing that “for the first time in 40 years there will be an exploratory drilling in Greek maritime blocks starting in 2027, and this is proof that Greece defends its sovereign rights and strengthens its national security.”

In his rebuttal, and after Mr. Androulakis’ references to the wiretapping issue, the Prime Minister said: “You had announced a pre-agenda debate on the rule of law a month ago; we are still waiting for it. The proposal is accepted—submit a proposal on the rule of law so that we can discuss everything here in Parliament.”

Mitsotakis’ opening speech

The Prime Minister began his speech by “expressing, on behalf of the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy, deep sorrow for the premature loss of Antigoni Panelli, who stood out for her integrity. She leaves us a valuable lesson of perseverance and struggle. Condolences to her relatives and family.”

He then said to the PASOK president that “you cannot claim that the government’s energy policy ‘fuels high prices and endangers the country’s energy security’ when exactly the opposite is happening. Greece today covers all its needs and at the same time exports energy to other countries. The Greece that supposedly, as you say, is at energy risk. You repeat the lie that Greece has the most expensive electricity in the EU. Household tariffs in Greece in the first half of 2025 were 21% cheaper than the European average. I submit the table so that you may inform yourselves. You insist on investing in a crisis that broke out after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I understand exaggeration as part of opposition zeal, but I do not accept the distortion of real data. You conceal data of our era, such as the fact that the cost of emissions has made lignite completely unprofitable. Lignite today is the most expensive fuel the country could use for electricity production. What you are proposing with the maintenance of lignite plants is therefore that we pay more expensive electricity than we currently pay.”

“Prices in Europe overall are indeed higher than they were before the crisis caused by the Russian invasion. In the EU, wholesale electricity prices have doubled since 2019. What is the situation here? Eurostat shows reduced household tariffs in Greece by 21% compared to Europe. We are therefore currently in the pleasant position—look at the tables—January average price €109 per megawatt-hour. Bulgaria €146, Romania €151. We have a different picture. Why is this happening? Because the energy policy mix is based on two pillars: rapid penetration of renewables—today we produce over 50% of our needs—and we hope this will be strengthened with storage projects. At the same time, we have made a strategic choice that whatever we cannot cover from renewables we will cover with natural gas—not Russian, because the European Union has decided to decouple—but imported LNG, preferably of American origin when prices are favorable, to cover remaining needs. And with this mix we reach these low prices. Will they pass on to the retail market? Of course they will, and we expect suppliers to offer lower prices. What we must agree on is whether this basic choice is correct. Or do you want to include lignite in the mix? Lignite will be included only in emergencies. If, however, you want and propose to include it now, explain to citizens why they will pay more expensive electricity,” Mr. Mitsotakis continued.

“You expressed concern in your question about energy autonomy, claiming that our policy endangers it. But look at the trade balance. For the first time in 2024 and 2025 it was positive. Our policy gradually leads to lower wholesale prices. Last year we were the 10th most expensive; in 2019 we were the most expensive in wholesale terms. If we want to be competitive in electricity prices—which is a national priority—we must continue investments. In 2019 investments were €400 million; in 2025 they are €1.5 billion. These investments allow us to interconnect our islands, mainly Crete, so that they do not burden all other consumers with increased Public Service Obligations (PSOs),” the Prime Minister added.

After stressing that “these investments will continue,” he assured that “ADMIE will not be privatized. The Greek state will participate with its share and maintain this majority.”

Regarding Mr. Androulakis’ “doubts” about color-coded tariffs, the Prime Minister pointed out that “today in retail we have 13 small and large companies offering many packages. We all want this. What else do we want? Transparency and order in the chaos that existed before color coding. You changed supplier and paid more while comparison was impossible. Now order has been introduced. More and more consumers choose blue fixed locked tariffs so they do not have monthly insecurity. That is an indication of health and progress. Extremely important are also the orange tariffs linked to smart meters, which allow businesses to increase consumption when prices are extremely low or zero.”

On this point, Mr. Mitsotakis commented: “We are now in a multicolor reality of cheaper tariffs, not in the monopoly of the green union bosses who used to shut down switches.”

Specifically regarding Public Power Corporation and its social role, the Prime Minister clarified that “the social role belongs to the state. I do not think you want to turn PPC back into the bankrupt company we inherited in 2019. Today it is a robust company investing in new technologies.” When the PASOK president said “it sells washing machines and stoves with the blood of the Greek people,” the Prime Minister replied: “Why don’t you move to the Communist Party?” Addressing Milena Apostolaki, he added: “Yes, yes, don’t take on that angry tone. Save it for the exam committees.”

Continuing on energy, the Prime Minister said: “In 2019 we were an insignificant player in the energy game; today the country has become an important pole of energy security for the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. These did not happen by chance. They resulted from government investments in Revithoussa and Alexandroupoli. We gave substance to the Vertical Corridor, with Greece playing a significant role in developments in the southeastern Mediterranean.”

“We gave substance to the Vertical Corridor. Today Greece connects energy policy with foreign policy. As much as we believe in renewables, we also believe that the country must explore the natural gas deposits it may have. And at this point I would like to emphasize the important role of Yiannis Maniatis. For the first time in 40 years there will be exploratory drilling in Greek maritime blocks starting in 2027, and this is proof that Greece defends its sovereign rights and strengthens itself nationally,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis concluded.

Mitsotakis’ rebuttal

Beginning his rebuttal, the Prime Minister said: “If the numbers do not agree with you, so much the worse for the numbers. Let’s go again: in 2019 our country had the most expensive wholesale price. That is what we inherited. We led the country to reach the EU average. As wholesale prices fall, retail prices fall as well. I will say it again: the correct policy mix prioritizes rapid entry of renewables into the system, investments in networks, and complementarily, as a base fuel, natural gas. There is no need to extend Ptolemaida 5. It does not operate because it does not make money. What renewables do we want? A balanced mix of wind and photovoltaic. Where do we want them? We do not want wind farms on high mountains and sensitive ecosystems. We want concentration of wind farms in areas that have socially accepted them. You speak about energy communities. Do you know that 50% of renewables come from small producers? We want large investments as well.”

He then referred to government initiatives to support households, saying: “I have said many times that for the government the cost of living is the top priority. There are households that struggle. At the same time, the government implements prudent fiscal policy so that we can support these households. We reduced taxation and citizens saw support for disposable income with increases in nominal wages. That is how we support citizens. The government returned one full month’s rent and we will do it again. It is not the solution to the problem; our main priority is not increasing demand but supply. Do not wag your finger at us. We know what we are facing and we address it with respect. We are not celebrating, but today this government, unlike the majority of other EU governments, meets fiscal targets and returns surplus to society. At the end of March, the Cabinet will decide on another increase in the minimum wage. I can say with absolute certainty that the target we committed to—that in 2027 the minimum wage will rise from €680 to €950—will be fully met.”

Finally, regarding the wiretapping issue and what Nikos Androulakis said earlier, the Prime Minister replied: “You had already announced a pre-agenda debate on the rule of law. A month ago, and we are still waiting. I tell you in advance that your proposal on the rule of law will be accepted. Submit it again so we can discuss everything, measure ourselves, and see the progress we have made in various areas and confront where we must.”

Androulakis’ speech

The PASOK president began his statement by noting that high energy prices hit households, farmers, and businesses. “Citizens pay the most expensive electricity in the EU. Greece has five times more overdue debts compared to the EU average,” the PASOK president said, also claiming that PPC’s profits have skyrocketed.

“You handed the energy sector to a few powerful players and not to real producers,” he said elsewhere, noting that the energy reform “constitutes one of the biggest scandals of the New Democracy government.”

“In 2025, green energy equivalent to all agricultural electricity consumption of the country—or the consumption of 500,000 households—was lost,” Mr. Androulakis said, expressing opposition to the closure of lignite-fired power plants. “It constitutes a direct undermining of the public interest,” he added, saying that “your actions bring high prices and strengthen cartels.”

“You constantly talk about the Vertical Corridor but avoid informing the people about the timetable for laying the Greece–Cyprus–Israel interconnection cable. A few days ago you met Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Do you have something to tell us about this, or do you share the view of Mr. Theocharis, who claimed that the project is not proceeding due to Cyprus’ responsibility? We want clear answers on these national issues,” he said.

Mr. Androulakis also commented on the judicial decision regarding wiretapping. “The decision vindicates not only me but also all those who stood firmly against dark practices. The decision shakes your para-state,” he said.

“My surveillance was not a mistake, as you said, but a para-state mechanism that trampled rights and the rule of law. The government’s reactions are shameful. Instead of apologizing, you attack arrogantly, saying that we do not respect justice. Respect means implementing court decisions. I call on you to implement the Council of State’s decision. I trust justice as much as you trusted it during the Tsipras government,” he said.

The PASOK president added: “Did you read that justice orders an investigation for espionage? What will you do? What will you do today with those who organized the para-state and in whose name they organized it? Will you be held accountable, Mr. Mitsotakis, for illegal power games, in broad daylight?”

“The struggle will continue unwaveringly until the end so that those who believe that because they won elections the state belongs to them are brought to justice. It does not belong to you. I will do everything in my power to teach you a lesson: the state is not spoils in the hands of the prime minister of the day. Let us end corruption once and for all. The struggle will go on to the end. It is not personal; it is a matter of principles, values, and oath—to serve the homeland without counting the cost of attacks,” he said.

Androulakis’ rebuttal

“The green transition was designed to make producers and consumers resilient, producing the energy they consume themselves. You gave it to oligarchs. You spoke to us about vertical corridors, but said nothing about the cable. Did Erdogan’s intimidation prevail? Yes or no? Will the cable be laid? Tell us,” the PASOK president said in his rebuttal.

“Did we say to return to lignite? We said to extend the one unit that is operating—just as the Germans do. Do the Germans not know, and you do? Even emissions cost policies in the EU are being revised.”