Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who attended on Tuesday the presentation of the “Minimum Guaranteed Income” program by the Labor Ministry at the Aegli of Zappeion Mansion, underlined in his address that “today we are launching in Greece a tool of social policy for the protection of the weakest, for the fight against poverty and the reintegration of those who risk being left out.”

Mr. Samaras added that this was made possible with the surpluses of the country and the fact that Greece can cover its social needs on its own. He also noted that the government is launching initiatives which were unthinkable until some time ago and that reforms make the country more efficient and fairer. “Social justice promotes development and strengthens democracy in our country,” the prime minister noted.

Government Vice-President and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, who also attended the event, said during his address that “unfortunately Greece in the last years has become the laboratory of the European crisis.”

However, he added that “we are now exiting this situation, we are turning a page, we are organizing Greece in the post-crisis, post-memorandum era.”

Referring to the program, he clarified this was not charity but social solidarity and appeared confident that it would very soon yield results.

“But this is the minimum, it is not enough. Our policies for the ‘help at home’ program, for the homeless and the unemployed lay the foundations so that the ‘Minimum Guaranteed Income’ brings results. The change in the employment level affects the sustainability of the pension system. The development will be geometric as long as we are united and determined to turn a page,” Mr. Venizelos said.

Finally, Labor Minister Yiannis Vroutsis said on Tuesday the following: “Today is a special moment because the greatest social reform in the country that is changing what we have known about the social state is presented. It is an innovative measure that is the pillar of the social solidarity of tomorrow.”

Beneficiaries for the “Minimum Guaranteed Income” can submit their applications electronically as of November 15

The “Minimum Guaranteed Income” will be granted to people with no income and it starts at 200 euros for a single-person while those married will get an additional 100 euros for each adult member of their family apart from the husband and 50 euros for each minor member.

This means that a married couple with two children should have a minimum guaranteed income of 400 euros.

The beneficiaries are estimated at around 700,000 persons and the funding amount reaches 850 million eurοs.

The implementation of the measure will start on a pilot phase in 15 municipalities: Drama, Edessa, Grevena, Ioannina, Karditsa, Lefkada, Messolonghi, Halkida, Kallithea, Tripoli, Samos, Syros, Malevizio. The measure is expected to be applied to the whole county as of 2015.