Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a clear message from the OPEN television network that elections will not take place in the autumn, insisting that the government will continue implementing its program until the end of its four-year term.

The Prime Minister rejected scenarios linking increased government activity with an early appeal to the polls, noting that the planning of projects and reforms is not determined by the electoral cycle.

“They will not take place in the autumn,” he stated clearly, adding that “a government does not stop its work because we have entered the fourth year of its term.”

As he said, the government has an intensive schedule ahead of it, with projects being delivered as well as new initiatives being launched.

“Do not draw conclusions from a level of activity that is not unusual for us,” he said, stressing that preparation for the next day began immediately after the 2023 elections.

He appeared particularly sharp toward the opposition over announcements of new benefits, targeting both Alexis Tsipras and Nikos Androulakis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that, in a country that has paid a heavy price for fiscal excesses and large debts, pre-election commitments must be costed and implementable.

Regarding the discussion over the 13th pension payment, he described as “ridiculous” the questioning of its cost, calling on the PASOK leader to refer to the General Accounting Office of the State.

“It is very easy in the current circumstances to announce measures that you know you will not implement,” he said, adding: “I am not going to fall into the temptation of opening the purse and promising things that I will not implement.”

Regarding the announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF/DETH), the Prime Minister kept his cards close to his chest, but confirmed that there will again be significant fiscal space this year.

“Supporting disposable income is a central policy priority,” he said, identifying as the key question who can generate the wealth and surpluses that allow for new measures in support of society.

He recalled that last year the government chose mainly to support young people and families with children, noting that wage earners saw real increases reflected in their first tax statements.

“You will allow me not to reveal my cards in this interview,” he said regarding this year’s TIF announcements, adding that there will be “a not insignificant fiscal space.”

He nevertheless sent a clear message that all available resources will return to society:

“We will distribute every last euro of what we have available. The discussion cannot take place based on imaginary expectations.”

Referring specifically to Alexis Tsipras, he noted that the middle class “remembers very well the experience of the tax raid of 2015.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis was also cautious regarding proposals for a horizontal reduction of VAT, expressing doubts over whether the benefit would ultimately reach consumers.

“I prefer to support in a targeted manner those who truly need it,” he said, estimating that a horizontal VAT reduction could be absorbed by the production and distribution chain.

For the TIF package, Kyriakos Mitsotakis this time pointed toward small and medium-sized business owners and self-employed professionals, without revealing the measures being considered.

“I think the time has come to focus more on small and medium-sized entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals,” he said, adding that the government knows the areas in which it can act.

However, he asked for “a little patience,” explaining that the final fiscal space will not be known until the very last moment.

At the same time, he set as the next major goal for the Greek economy achieving growth rates of around 3%, emphasizing that this requires further changes and reforms.

“I never denied that OPEKEPE was a long-standing scandal”

Mitsotakis made particular reference to OPEKEPE, openly acknowledging the government’s delay in addressing the problem.

“I never denied that OPEKEPE was a long-standing scandal,” he said, recalling the decision to transfer its responsibilities to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).

“Did we take too long to do it? Yes. If I could turn back time, I would have done it earlier. We failed,” he admitted.

However, he was quick to set limits on the political exploitation of the issue, saying there is a significant distance between acknowledging a failure and labeling an entire government a “government of defendants.”

Regarding the case of Christos Triantopoulos, he avoided commenting on the substance, citing the pending judgment of the judiciary.

“We do not have a decision from the council. I have learned to respect the decisions of the judiciary and to have confidence in the judiciary,” he stressed, adding that “there are no good and bad prosecutors.”

Referring to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, he described it as a “very useful institution,” which, he said, the Greek government has supported.

However, he left a clear criticism regarding the handling of cases involving MPs, noting that “life itself” will show whether the right choices were made.

“I believe those who said that in the cases of nine MPs there may have been a rush were vindicated,” he said.

He also recalled that he had been forced to remove three ministers, who, as he said, “came out clean” and there is now nothing that can be attributed to them.

He clarified, however, that he is not attributing any ulterior motive to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Regarding the wiretapping case, he once again invoked the presumption of innocence, stressing that he will make a final statement only once the judicial process has been completed, including the second instance.

Regarding Antonis Samaras

Mitsotakis also made clear his distance from Antonis Samaras.

The Prime Minister said that he respects all former presidents of New Democracy and all former prime ministers, but made clear that “everyone is responsible for their own views and for the way in which they express themselves.”

“I am not obliged to agree on everything with former prime ministers. This government was elected by the Greek people to implement its program. Full stop,” he said.

Regarding the possibility of Antonis Samaras establishing a new political party, he avoided making a prediction, saying that time must pass first.

However, he made clear that there is currently no room for understanding with him.

“There is a substantive public questioning of the core of the government’s foreign and defense policy, which cannot be accepted by me. Therefore, there is absolutely no room for understanding with Mr. Samaras,” he stressed.

At the same time, Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted that achieving a single-party majority remains an achievable goal for New Democracy.

He described scenarios about post-election coalitions as “entertaining,” noting that no one can predict the verdict of the electorate.

“New Democracy is confidently pursuing a self-sufficient majority,” he said, referring to the opinion polls of spring 2023, before ND’s electoral victory.

“Pursuing a majority is an achievable goal. It is certainly more achievable than being happy that you will come first by one vote,” he said, taking a jab at PASOK.

“Good luck” to the scenarios for a government of special purpose

At the same time, he dismissed with a “good luck” the discussion about a government of special purpose without him.

The Prime Minister recalled that similar scenarios had also been raised before the 2023 elections.

“What you are telling me is not something new. In 2023, were they not talking about such a government as well? What does a government of special purpose mean? Back then they were also talking about a government of the defeated,” he said, ending his response with the phrase: “Good luck.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted that New Democracy will pursue a majority government with confidence, without predicting the electoral result.

“I cannot predict the result. We will respect the verdict of the Greek people,” he said.

He referred, moreover, to the polls before the 2023 elections, when many considered a parliamentary majority difficult to achieve.

“Pursuing a majority is an achievable goal. It is certainly more achievable than being happy that you will be the first party by one vote,” he noted.

Attack on PASOK over Constitutional Revision

Kyriakos Mitsotakis attributed responsibility to PASOK for the difficulty in securing a broad majority for constitutional revision.

“We have the absurdity of PASOK agreeing with many of the things we have proposed and not voting for them, simply because it does not want to agree in this Parliament and reach 180 MPs,” he said.

As he explained, securing 180 votes in the current Parliament would allow the revised provisions to be approved with 151 votes in the next Parliament.

“The Constitutional Revision will not fail now. Whether there will be the possibility of finding 180 MPs in the next Parliament, we will see. However, it would be much easier to seek 151 MPs in the next Parliament,” he said.

He accused PASOK of adopting “the stance of a protest party” rather than a party that wants to present itself as institutional and responsible.

“We do not ask Turkey for permission”

Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, the Prime Minister rejected criticism that Athens is limiting its actions because of reactions from Ankara.

“I do not see us asking for any permission to connect our islands. We did not ask for permission to create marine parks, for maritime spatial planning, or to begin the process of hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete,” he said.

“I do not know what Turkey will do. I know that we have responded to all of Turkey’s actions,” he added.

However, he stressed that defending Greek positions does not require constant tension.

“We do not need to be in a state of permanent tension or excessive dramatization,” he said.

Regarding the possibility of negotiations with Turkey over the delimitation of maritime zones, he made clear that Greece will not enter negotiations from a position of weakness.

“We are not there yet. Under no circumstances am I willing to negotiate from a position of weakness,” he said.

He referred to the strengthening of the Armed Forces since 2019 and recalled that at that time Turkey was ready to receive 100 F-35 fighter jets.

“I want Greece to have such deterrent power that its sovereignty can never be questioned. That is where we are today,” he stressed.