ATHENS – With pre-election buzz in Athens whether or not they are scheduled for next spring, at the end of the term of the Mitsotakis government, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said in an interview with Action 24 TV on July 24: “The government is moving forward with its projects and reforms.”
Hatzidakis continued:
“Yesterday, the Prime Minister inaugurated the E65 motorway, a very significant project. By the end of August, the extension of the Thessaloniki Metro will also be inaugurated. Yesterday, I personally, together with Deputy Minister of Transport Giorgos Kotsiras, visited Thessaly and Fthiotida, where we inspected the railway projects currently under way, which will be completed according to the timetable that has been presented. I see that an attempt has been made to create a discussion following the hearing of the president of the Hellenic Railways in Parliament. There is nothing new there. The projects are progressing as announced, both in terms of repairing the network and in terms of electrification and signalling…
“Beyond that, the government is also doing what needs to be done at an institutional level, with bills being brought before Parliament. This week we have the bill on water management. Next week there will be the discussion on the constitutional revision, which, rather surprisingly, opposition parties are attempting to undermine and are not participating in. We also have an ongoing national dialogue on the national school-leaving certificate and the role of upper secondary education. This is also a very important initiative.
“At the same time, despite the challenging international environment, we continue to receive positive news on the economy. Greece’s growth rates are higher than those of most European countries. Unemployment continues to decline, and tourism revenues in the country during the first five months were 25.8% higher compared with the previous year.”
Referring to developments in the fuel market, Hatzidakis reiterated that the government would act soon, placing particular emphasis on diesel, where price increases have been greater and affect not only transport costs but also the entire production chain.
