The first mention of “extraordinary tax” by the government hit the airwaves on Saturday, with Greek FinMin Yanis Varoufakis stating that “if necessary”, the wealthy will be asked to cough up a one-time tax payment.

Speaking to an Athens-area private TV station in a pre-taped segment aired in the morning, Varoufakis’ statement was: “in order to achieve balanced budgets by Greek State, if necessary we will ask of the wealthy to pay an extraordinary tax”.

He mentioned an “income ceiling”, without citing what that figure may be.

Turning to previously discussed initiatives, he said details of a measure to allow as many as 100 installments for repaying tax and pension fund debts are being worked out. Moreover, he said VAT rates will not be increased on the islands or “outlying” provincial regions, nor will the rate be hiked on medicines, foodstuffs and … books.

Varoufakis continued by saying that a “normalization in VAT” rates is envisioned for some products, in accordance with a Eurogroup agreement.

Finally, he said that an initial promise by the newly elected leftist government to institute a tax-free ceiling of 12,000 euros for yearly income will be back on the table “in stages”.