Greece passed its 2025 budget late Sunday night, with 159 MPs voting in favor and 139 against.
Defense measures received overwhelming bipartisan support, with an enlarged majority of 258 MPs -including from PASOK, Syriza and the Spartans- approving the expenditure. Only the communist party of Greece, the New Left and Plefsi Eleftherias opposed.
Notably absent from the vote were Adonis Samaras, the former Prime Minister and recently expelled member of New Democracy (ND), and former ND MP Marios Salmas.
The budget also garnered support from four MPs outside New Democracy’s ranks: former ND MP and minister Lefteris Avgenakis, along with three defectors from the far-right Spartans party.
An Appeal to the Left
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the budget’s focus on aiding struggling households and low-income pensioners, criticizing left-wing parties for opposing it.
Key measures include reduced fees for bank transactions, an increase in the daily limit for free IRIS electronic payments, and the abolition of medication costs for low-income pensioners.
Additionally, police officers, armed forces, coast guard officers, and firefighters are set to receive a special bonus for dangerous work, expected to be implemented in early 2026.
Opposition Reactions
PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis attacked the budget as a “missed opportunity,” framing his party as a strong opposition force.
Meanwhile, SYRIZA’s deep internal divisions were exposed yet again, particularly in relation to their hesitant stance on defense spending.
