Addressing the high cost of living, and the new public health system draft bill were among the topics broached during a scheduled meeting between Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens on Monday at the Presidential Mansion.
The PM briefed the President on matters of current affairs, focusing particularly on his government’s unwavering determination to address inflation and keep prices under control. Mitsotakis said indicators showing a de-escalation of prices of products on supermarket shelves in June were “promising”.
On the issue of climbing energy costs, which experienced a sharp spike recently, the Greek PM stressed the government was keeping a “close eye” on the matter, dubbing the huge profits made by energy producers “out of the blue”.
“There was a sharp increase in prices across Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Producers made windfall profits. The government will tax these profits, sending a message that consumers should not have to bear the burden of market dysfunctions.”
The PM added that the state was ready to intervene whenever it deemed the market was distorted.
On the piece of legislation regarding the health system, scheduled for a vote in parliament today, which includes the requisition of private doctors, the Greek PM said he believed the controversial clause would not be activated, estimating physicians would volunteer to provide their services if necessary.
The PM also referred to the phenomenon of water scarcity that has placed many regions in the country in a state of emergency, warning it was taking on “structural characteristics due to the climate crisis.”
On her part, Ms. Sakellaropoulou agreed that high prices and health concerns were significant matters affecting citizens’ daily lives and that efforts should be made to close the gap between the winners and losers of globalization.
