Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis defined the electoral strategy for New Democracy on Wednesday evening, September 9, stating that securing an outright parliamentary majority in upcoming elections remains the governing party's only achievable goal for stable leadership.
Speaking during an appearance on the ERTnews television program At the Centre, Marinakis clarified that while an outright majority is the target, New Democracy is not ruling out a potential coalition with PASOK if election results require it.
New Democracy is the center-right political party currently governing Greece, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. ERTnews is the 24-hour national news channel operated by ERT, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation.
Marinakis acknowledged that attaining an outright majority will be challenging given the current gap in polling, but emphasized that reaching the target will require hard work, proven results, and political humility.
Should New Democracy emerge as the largest party without a clear majority, Marinakis stated that all options for forming a government would need to be explored. He pointed directly to the opposition PASOK party, saying that falling short of a majority would not mean a coalition with PASOK was out of the question.
However, Marinakis expressed skepticism about how a partnership could work in practice, questioning how PASOK could co-govern with New Democracy after co-signing a parliamentary motion of no confidence alongside Zoe Konstantopoulou. He added that a coalition government is a two-way exercise and noted he could not imagine PASOK agreeing to join forces.
PASOK, officially known as the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, is Greece's main center-left opposition party led by Nikos Androulakis. Zoe Konstantopoulou is the leader of the Course of Freedom party and a former Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament.
Fiscal policy and tax plans
Addressing economic management following announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Marinakis stated that the government remains open to new policy initiatives provided fiscal space can be created without imposing new taxes.
Regarding state benefit packages, Marinakis remarked that the government can only offer what resources it currently possesses. He outlined two mandatory conditions for benefits to become permanent: generating revenue through economic expansion while combating tax evasion, and strictly adhering to established spending limits.
Marinakis highlighted key economic indicators to support the government's approach, citing the creation of roughly 600,000 jobs, an increase in investment from 10 percent to 17.5 percent of gross domestic product, and a doubling of exports from 20 percent to 40 percent of output. He argued that increased economic activity yields higher tax revenues even when tax rates are lowered.
The Thessaloniki International Fair is an annual trade exhibition held every September in Greece's second-largest city. It traditionally serves as the primary stage for Greek prime ministers to outline annual national economic policy and tax revisions.
Acknowledging the living costs that continue to burden Greek households, Marinakis pointed to persistent pressures in housing, grocery prices, and business energy expenses. However, he rejected calls for unfunded government intervention, stressing that solutions cannot be funded with money that is not there.
On proposals to lower value-added tax, Marinakis noted that each percentage point reduction in the rate represents approximately 1 billion euros in lost revenue. He explained that when fiscal constraints arise, the government chooses to prioritize reductions in direct taxes instead.
Marinakis asserted that the administration delivered the largest reduction in income tax in recent history, providing direct financial relief to salaried employees, pensioners, and self-employed workers.
Political critiques of opposition leaders
Marinakis launched a sharp critique against former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, rejecting the concept of a political fresh start unlinked to Tsipras's previous record in office. He stated that Tsipras's much-advertised political rebranding was simply money down the drain and asserted that the opposition figure remains unchanged.
Marinakis remarked that Tsipras claims the unique privilege of having multiple political identities and attempting to be politically reborn. He added that when a politician tells so many lies to so many people, they do not possess the right or ability to have their past governance wiped clean.
Alexis Tsipras served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 during the European debt crisis and led the leftist Syriza party until stepping down from its leadership in 2023.
Marinakis also directed strong criticism toward former prime minister Antonis Samaras amid public speculation concerning the potential launch of a new political party.
Responding to recent video statements by Samaras that criticized government actions across economic and healthcare policy, Marinakis questioned how a government could manage four years without making such mistakes, only to supposedly get everything wrong over the subsequent two or three years. He emphasized that Samaras must answer that question himself.
Antonis Samaras, a veteran conservative politician, served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2012 to 2015 and led New Democracy during a previous coalition government before stepping down following the 2015 bailout referendum.
Foreign relations and social issues
Turning to foreign policy, Marinakis acknowledged recent increases in bilateral tension with Turkey but stated that the government foresees no risk of significant military escalation.
He reaffirmed the long standing position of Athens that Greece recognizes only one dispute with Ankara, which is the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf based on international law.
Regarding a possible meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Marinakis indicated that such a meeting is not currently on the prime minister's official schedule, though he did not rule it out.
An Exclusive Economic Zone grants a maritime nation sovereign rights over natural resource exploration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Greece and Turkey have maintained opposing claims over territorial waters and seabed rights in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean for decades.
Concluding on social issues, Marinakis discussed public debate regarding same-sex marriage and the broader social movement often labeled the woke agenda, stating that the two topics should not be treated as synonymous.
Marinakis affirmed that there remain two genders, while acknowledging that same-sex families are legally recognized as equal under Greek law. However, he stopped short of describing same-sex family units as a traditional family.
Marinakis conceded that the government fell into a political trap by allowing public discourse to focus heavily on that debate for several months, noting that the resulting controversy alienated a portion of New Democracy's traditional conservative voter base.
