Mitsotakis: Turkiye insists on its positions and we insist on ours

The 2025 budget confirms the positive outlook of the Greek economy, with growth rates well above the European average, stable public finances, and a debt that is being reduced, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Alpha TV late on Wednesday, adding that the budget provides for 12 tax cuts.

"These are the foundations on which we are building an economic policy that will end up benefiting the citizens, with an improvement in their disposable income," he noted.

Referring to main opposition PASOK party, he said that what worries him the most is that its counter-proposals are completely unsubstantiated, unfounded and outside the European framework. "I am referring specifically to the proposal on VAT. They prove that there is not even a basic understanding of the way in which the European framework works and the commitments that the country has undertaken as a member of the eurozone," he said.

GREEK - TURKISH RELATIONS

In response to a question about Greek-Turkish relations, he stressed that "Turkiye insists on its positions and we insist on ours. So, at the moment there is no room to discuss in greater depth the sole difference, since Turkiye wants to discuss other issues that we do not intend to discuss, meaning that no substantial progress has been achieved in this area."

"We will continue to discuss with Turkiye. We will continue to seek calm waters with Turkiye. And let me tell you something I have said before: we can agree and disagree. This is probably the most likely scenario right now. This doesn't mean that we should be permanently in a state of tension, not discussing other aspects of our relations and constantly be with the "finger on the trigger" amid a fear of a hot incident. I don't think the Greeks want that," he added.

AA