Tag:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

New Left: Salmas was right in everything he denounced – Culture Party – 2024-09-26 21:37:11

by Ethan Caldwell September 26, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

“They should not let one of their MPs now confirm that the party in Culture is about the very friends of Mr. Mitsotakis” was the New Left’s comment on the deletion of Salma from the New Democracy, relating the decision taken to what he had said the deputy of Etoloakarnania on the Ministry of Culture’s tenders for canteens of the archaeological sites.

The same sources claimed that “Mr. Mitsotakis shares with his chosen Minister of Culture the management and flow of public money in Culture” concluding that Salma’s dismissal “has to do with the fact that he was right in what he denounced”.

From the New Left, they finally recalled that “the issue had been highlighted in the press and had been raised politically with the minister”, pointing out that “Ms. Mendoni, in her well-known style, had discredited the opposition when the issue was discussed in the Parliament”.

Salma’s position

Earlier, Marios Salmas had said that “I was deleted for my ideas, my opinions” characterizing the decision as unconstitutional, since “Article 60 states that the MP has unlimited freedom of speech, expression and judgement”.

“We all serve the faction. Anyone who has a proprietary perception of the faction is wrong,” also argued the now independent MP who is not going to hand over his seat.

#Left #Salmas #denounced #Culture #Party

September 26, 2024 0 comments

Business

Electric interconnection of Greece – Cyprus: Mitsotakis – Christodoulidis are trying again – 2024-09-22 09:28:03

by Ethan Caldwell September 22, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

With the most important pieces in the big puzzle of the Cyprus-Greece electrical interconnection agreement still not in place, it starts at 11.00 a.m. Maximos Palace the crucial meeting of the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, regarding the project. In Athens, according to government sources close to the negotiations who spoke to the “Economic Post”, the disappointment is evident after the decision of the Cyprus cabinet last Tuesday.

The red lines of Greece

“Red line” for Greece are two issues, for which if the two sides do not agree there will be no final agreement. The first concerns the Cypriot government taking a decision on its shareholding in the cable with 100 million euros, as was initially agreed.

However, in the text of the cabinet on Tuesday, as reported by Greek government officials, it is pointed out that the participation of the Cypriots will be taken in December, when the European Investment Bank evaluates the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of the project. The reluctance to immediately take this decision is “translated” by Athens as Cyprus questioning the usefulness of the cable and signals its reluctance to continue the project.

Hard bargains for cost sharing

Also, Greece considers it a fundamental issue for Cyprus to stop questioning the 2017 agreed ratio of the two parties provided for in the cross-border cost allocation of the project (Cross Border Cost Allocation – CBCA). The Cypriot side on Tuesday set a new condition in the decision of its cabinet. According to information, the text states that, in the event that the final cost of the cable exceeds 1.94 billion euros, then the additional amount will be shared 50% – 50% between the two countries. The existing CBCA provides for a 63% apportionment for Cyprus, which benefits the most from electricity interconnection, and 37% for Greece.

The gap between the two sides

In the remaining open issues, the gap between the two sides, as reported by competent sources, can be bridged. After all, the Greek side relented in terms of sharing the geopolitical risk equally between the two countries, i.e. 50%-50% in case the electrical interconnection project is affected by external risks, which may prevent the completion of the interconnection or its operation without responsibility of the implementing body.

In exchange, he allegedly asked for Cyprus’ participation in the share capital, which was ultimately not granted. The initial distribution was 63% for Cypriots and 37% for Greek consumers.

As for the recovery of the amount of 125 million euros during the five-year 2025-2030 construction of the project (i.e. 25 million per year) the pending, despite the optimistic statements of the Minister of Energy of Cyprus Mr. George Papanastasiouappears to be maintained. And this is because in the text of the decision of the cabinet it is mentioned that the amount can reach up to 125 million euros (so it may be less).

In any case, in the last 24 hours the clouds over the Great Sea Interconnector electrical interconnection project have thickened as have the question marks as to whether “white smoke” will finally come out of Maximus today for a final agreement.

Source: ot.gr

#Electric #interconnection #Greece #Cyprus #Mitsotakis #Christodoulidis

September 22, 2024 0 comments

World

“Spiti my 2”: The new facilities for beneficiaries announced by Mitsotakis – 2024-09-17 11:35:59

by Ethan Caldwell September 17, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

In the morning, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired a meeting on the network of actions implemented for the acquisition of a first home and the upgrading of the housing stock, with the new programs at the forefront “My house 2” and “Upgrading my Home”, co-funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

During the meeting, it was decided to implement two further facilities for those who apply to participate in “My Home 2”.

First, in order to expand the scope of beneficiaries, not only citizens who met the income criteria in 2023, but also those who met them on average over a three-year period, will be eligible. In this way, households that have managed to increase their income will not be excluded, while in the big picture they belong to the social groups targeted by the housing acquisition programs.

Second, in the new program the pre-approval that each applicant receives in the early stages will not expire a few months later, but will remain in effect until the available resources are exhausted. In this way, the objection process will not be needed and all interested parties will have the maximum possible time to finalize the signing of the home purchase contract.

“Following the great success of the first “My House” program, through which more than 9,000 of our fellow citizens will be able to acquire their own home by essentially paying a lower mortgage installment than they would pay for a rent for a similar home, ” we are building” and we are launching the “My Home 2″ program, with 2 billion euros in total resources”, noted the Prime Minister.

“The program will start from the beginning of January. We estimate that around 20,000 of our fellow citizens will benefit, and I believe that it constitutes a very important pillar of the government’s overall policy to deal with the housing crisis”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis added.

50% of the loan will be interest-free and will be financed by the Recovery Fund. The remaining 50% of the amount will come from a low-interest bank loan. For those with three children and those with many children, the distribution is 75% interest-free and 25% interest-bearing.

Compared to the previous program, the upper age limit is increased by 11 years, as “My Home 2” will cover beneficiaries aged 25 to 50, while the income criteria are also expanded. Specifically, eligible singles must have an annual income of up to 20,000 euros, while previously the limit was 16,000 euros. The limit amounts to 28,000 euros for a couple, compared to 24,000 euros in the first program. The increase for each child is 4,000 euros, i.e. 1,000 more than before.

Greater provisions are also provided for single-parent families. The income limit now increases to 31,000 euros, i.e. it is 4,000 higher compared to the first program, and additional 5,000 euros are provided for each child beyond the first, while until now the corresponding increase was 3,000 euros.

The new interest-free loan program “Upgrade my Home” was also discussed, through which it will be possible to finance many energy upgrades of primary and secondary residences, such as thermal insulation, window replacement or the installation of a solar water heater.

“We are talking about 400 million euros, up to 25,000 euros interest-free loan – I repeat, interest-free loan -, with a repayment period from 3 to 7 years, for energy upgrade costs of the houses, without substantial income criteria and very easy to disburse”, stressed the prime minister.

“I estimate that there will be a very high demand for this program as well. And this program will start running from the beginning of next year and will, obviously, complement the other programs, such as “Renovate – Rent”, which have one main purpose: to be able to put more closed houses on the market, more closed apartments, through subsidizing the process of energy upgrading and renovation of these closed houses. And, obviously, our roof policy doesn’t just end there. I want to emphasize the very great importance we attach to the institution of social compensation”, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

During the meeting there was also an overview of the wider effort to create a new, holistic roofing policy, from the purchase side to the repair or construction side.

With regard to “My Home 1”, it was pointed out that the program was put into practice only three months after its enactment and the final affiliations finally reached 9,155, with the disbursements of the relevant loans now exceeding 7,100. 81% of the credits were granted to beneficiaries with an annual income of up to 24,000 euros.

At the same time, the improvement of the terms of the “Renovate – Rent” program and the launch of social compensation were noted.

The Prime Minister’s full statement:

“We had the opportunity today to do a comprehensive overview of the housing programs from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. I am referring to the My Home 2 program and the Upgrade My Home program.

After the great success of the first “My House” program, through which more than 9,000 of our fellow citizens will be able to acquire their own home by essentially paying a lower mortgage installment than they would pay for a rent for a similar home, “we are building ” and we are launching the “My Home 2” program with 2 billion euros in total resources.

Half of the funds come from the loan arm of the Recovery Fund. I want to congratulate the entire staff of the Ministry because we succeeded and achieved this funding through a tough negotiation.

The “My Home 2” program has already attracted a lot of interest from many of our fellow citizens, who see the possibility of making their dream come true, i.e. owning their own home at a very reasonable mortgage cost.

The program will start from the beginning of January. We estimate that around 20,000 of our fellow citizens will benefit and I believe it is a very important pillar of the government’s overall policy to tackle the housing crisis.

A housing crisis that I want to remind you is not only a Greek problem, it is a European problem. Greece now, as it enters a trajectory of rapid development of our economy, is also experiencing the consequences of rising real estate prices.

I also want to add the very great importance of the “Upgrading my Home” programme, it is the second leg of the Recovery Fund co-financed housing programmes. We are talking about 400,000,000 euros, up to 25,000 euros interest-free loan – I repeat, interest-free loan – with a repayment period of 3 to 7 years for energy upgrade costs of the houses, without substantial income criteria and very easy to disburse.

I estimate that there will be a very high demand for this program as well. And this program will start running from the beginning of next year and will, obviously, complement the other programs, such as “Renovate – Rent”, which have one main purpose: to be able to put more closed houses on the market, more closed apartments, through subsidizing the process of energy upgrading and renovation of these closed houses.

And, obviously, our roof policy doesn’t just end there. I want to emphasize the very great importance we attach to the institution of Social Compensation. An institution that we are drastically simplifying, so that the state in all its forms, from local self-government to central administration, can utilize assets, mainly real estate, fields, plots of land, which are currently completely unused, in order to build houses which can be rented to our fellow citizens who need it, at a low rent.

In closing, let me once again express my satisfaction with the speed with which we were able to and did implement the government’s commitment to a new “My Home” program and I look forward to the very rapid disbursement of the relevant sums from the beginning of next year so that, as I said before, that 20,000 of our fellow citizens should be able to make their dream come true, to finally have their own home”.

#Spiti #facilities #beneficiaries #announced #Mitsotakis

September 17, 2024 0 comments

Business

Mitsotakis is changing course, expectations from Moody’s are falling, the meter of concessions, the reduction of debt through… Attikis Odou – Economic Postman – 2024-09-16 16:45:06

by Ethan Caldwell September 16, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

In the corridors of Maximos

A new order has just been circulated in the corridors of Maximus, I learn.

Who is she? Every new bill will have a “cost-benefit” analysis.

Don’t get confused though. Politician costs. Not financial.

A lot of capital was spent…

What does “principal” mean?

That the government, and especially the prime minister, have used up much of their political capital so far and cost containment must be done.

And I’m talking in financial terms, because that’s how Maximos’ communication staff team sees it.

In practice this means that difficult files will not be opened, especially on the taxation and charge front.

Only what the prime minister said in Thessaloniki. Obviously each measure was aimed at a specific group.

“Subject” 1st

The one folder that won’t open is the objective values.

With commercial values rising and real estate prices running wild, one would naturally expect the property values to change as well.

Forget it… the political cost is high.

Because if commercial and objective values converge, the tax will increase, the cost of transfers will be burdened dramatically.

“Subject” 2nd

Nor will the tax scale of employees be indexed. Even if it costs politically…

And as I learn, it has been discussed, with the benefit to tax revenue being small.

So the cost is not worth incurring. There are other more targeted measures to employ.

It is a pan-European phenomenon

Of course, not to blame only the Greek government, the phenomenon is pan-European.

Hence the decision of the German government to carry out controls at its borders, in order to reduce the anger of the Germans about the immigrants… on whom the responsibility for the economic woes of the country and the whole of Europe falls.

Of course, no mention of the Draghi report. Even when Lagarde herself reminded her at her press conference yesterday. In fact, in the statement. So she had prepared the reminder… she wasn’t asked.

Much credit, but…

At ours now, the change in Maximos’ attitude has also been detected by foreign funds and they are waiting… This is what people in the capital market who have already assessed the climate in view of the placement of Ethniki convey to me.

That is why we also see this lull in the stock market, the first and easiest gateway for foreigners to the Greek economy.

epa03219311 (FILE) A file picture dated 13 July 2011 shows the Moody’s logo outside the offices of Moody’s Corporation in New York, New York, USA. According to media reports on 14 May 2012, ratings agency Moody’s have down graded 26 Italian banks which include UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo. The negative outlook is leading to a possible further downgrade with Moody’ sfurther stating that the step was taken because of the poor Italian economy. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT *** Local Caption *** 00000403105018

They now refine the valuations and count the discount units, while also adding the dividends as other “accountants”.

As they tell me, not even Moody’s is likely to make a difference today, Friday the 13th, despite being the house that has not yet given our country the legendary “investment grade”.

They are missing from the real economy

After all, in addition to the stock market, outsiders also see qualitative data.

And the government has no answer to this.

That is, how is it possible to be in a positive environment, with higher growth compared to other European countries, and that a foreign bank has not come to Greece.

Don’t tell me about Unicredit, because it is known that they took a stake in Alpha Bank with their motive clearly being Romania.

What jobs?

And don’t pretend that data centers are an investment. Essentially, they are warehouses with gigantic machines that are not even produced in Greece and “eat” energy.

And all they can offer are some positions of engineers and technicians, or some guards.

They are good too, I know, but what I don’t know are the productivity points they offer in an economy whose competitiveness is in tatters.

KEPE also rang the bell yesterday about the trade deficit.

The government ran

Of course, the government “rushed” to speed up the building permits for Microsoft’s data centers in Mesogeia.

I put “ran” in quotation marks, because it took almost 4 years of paperwork to get the permits.

So in the last quarter it ran to become the first data center in Spata.

This, along with two others in Koropi promise to create 100 new jobs immediately and 300 in a ten-year horizon…

As the cartoons used to say… “without words”.

Attiki Odos

A concession tender was closed quickly according to the public data. The reason for Attiki Odos, which GEK TERNA undertakes to operate and manage.

The concession contract was signed yesterday and as TAIPED CEO Dimitris Politis had emphasized at the OT FORUM at the 88th TEF, it is the first time that a concession holder succeeds the next…

And at what price…

GEK TERNA gave almost 3.3 billion euros, an unprecedented amount in a concession tender in Greece, as pointed out by the Minister of National Economy and Finance.

George Peristeris

If nothing else, the claim and acceptance of yet another major concession by GEK TERNA (Egnatia Odos, BOAK, Kastelli, Integrated Tourist Complex in Elliniko, etc.) is due to the strategy drawn up and implemented by the major shareholder and president and CEO of the group, George Peristeris.

At least this is what they are commenting once again on the market, characterizing him as a “meter of concessions…”

Attiki Odos as well as the aforementioned concessions won by GEK TERNA offer multiplier value both to the national economy and to the shareholders of the listed company.

The 3.3 billion

The 3.3 billion euros paid to TAIPED by GEK TERNA reduce the public debt by 1.5 units of GDP.

And not only. The concessionaire, who undertakes for 25 years the financing, operation, maintenance and exploitation of the Attica Highway, in addition to the one-off financial consideration, will annually pay to TAIPED a percentage amounting to 7.5% of all types of revenues from the operation of the highway , while further investments and costs of upgrades and modernization of 380 million euros are foreseen for the entire duration of the concession.

Benefits

And of course the Greek government wins, as all the above shows, while drivers will also enjoy a reduced toll price for five years.

From 2.80 to 2.50 euros.

However, the shareholders of GEK TERNA also benefit. It is a low-risk project with a large surplus value as the highway of Attica shows particular resilience in any condition and economic environment.

#Mitsotakis #changing #expectations #Moodys #falling #meter #concessions #reduction #debt #through.. #Attikis #Odou #Economic #Postman

September 16, 2024 0 comments

Business

Airbnb: The answer to government regulations on short-term rentals – 2024-09-15 21:43:04

by Ethan Caldwell September 15, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

In a statement about the government announcements on short-term rentals in Greece, the head of Airbnb for Southern Europe, Valentina Reino.

Airbnb’s press release reads:

Following the government’s announcements on the new regulations on short-term rentals in Greece, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southern Europe, Valentina Reino, said:

«Across Greece, a typical Airbnb host rents out a home for just 24 nights a year, while more than one in two report that the extra income from this activity helps them maintain their homes.

We recognize the challenges faced by certain neighborhoods in Athens – where tourist traffic is highly concentrated or housing availability is scarce – and we want to work with the Greek government on targeted and proportionate solutions that will help balance the benefits of hospitality with the needs of these areas».

Airbnb has been working with the Independent Inland Revenue Authority (IAA) since April 2021 to provide all of its data from listings in the country, a landmark best practice agreement across Europe.

The areas that are “locked” for Airbnb in Athens

From the stage of the TIF, Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced measures aimed at short-term rentals, making clear the government’s intention to put a brake on their uncontrolled spread (but without demonizing them, as he said, in a difficult balance exercise), while providing incentives for owners to move their properties on “traditional” long-term leases.

In this light, a “cutter” is coming to Airbnb with a ban on new short-term rentals in the 3 central apartments of Athens for at least a year, with the Prime Minister yesterday leaving open the possibility of extending the ban to other areas if “saturation” is found.

Throughout the center of Athens (Koukaki, Thisio, Petralona, Pagrati) up to Neos Kosmos, the issuance of new licenses for owners who want to enter the short-term rental platforms stops for one year.

More specifically, the issuance of licenses is frozen for:

The 1st municipal district of Athens that includes the center of Athens with the so-called commercial triangle (Stadio-Omonia-Plaka).
The 2nd municipal district of Athens that includes the SE districts from Neo Kosmos to Stadio.
The 3rd municipal district of Athens which includes the SW districts of Asteroskopiou, Petraloni, Metaxourgeiou and Thisiou.

Source: ot.gr

#Airbnb #answer #government #regulations #shortterm #rentals

September 15, 2024 0 comments

World

Water shortage: What Mitsotakis says about the increases in water – Fire from the opposition in Parliament – 2024-09-15 17:00:57

by Ethan Caldwell September 15, 2024

written by Ethan Caldwell

The issue of water shortage that concerns many regions of the country has reached the Parliament, while in some places the alarm is “red”. As the chairperson of the subcommittee on water resources of the special standing committee on environmental protection, Dionysia – Theodora Avgerinopoulou, noted in a special session of the Parliament, “2024 has been characterized both in Greece and in many countries abroad, as an arid year, as the rainfall and in general the precipitation of water, even in the form of snow, was this year the lowest of the last years”.

The water reserves in Attica are sufficient for about 4 years, while at least 14 municipalities of the country have been declared by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection to be in a state of emergency. Among them are five municipalities of Crete, Serifos, Sifnos, Leros, Poros and Spetses. In the closed session, experts were invited to give their opinion on the matter, while opposition MPs criticized the government, accusing it of not having a plan ready to deal with the problem.

“A permanent political crime”

From PaSoK, the member of parliament, Katerina Spyridaki, who is a member of the sub-committee, stated that “it is really disappointing to be in 2024 and to still be debating in the style of findings and quoting data on the issue of water scarcity and anomie as if it’s something new. Even climate change and its subsequent extremes of weather I feel we are dealing with as if it were an unprecedented surprise.”

KKE Member of Parliament and member of the sub-committee, Semina Digeni, noted that this is “a permanent political crime” and added that “water throughout the capitalist world, from a vital natural resource, social good and social property, has now turned into a highly paid commodity, for the people and a source of endless profits for big capital. The sharpening of the contradictions, on the issues of water management and their extension to other areas, can even take on the character of military conflicts”.

From the government’s side, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Vassilis Spanakis, explained that the solution to the problem is an absolute priority. “The Government of the New Republic, the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is in a permanent partnership, both with the municipalities of the country, as well as with the relevant Ministries, to intervene effectively, immediately and ensuring sufficient and excellent quality water in every Region of the country , in every Municipality of the country, in every corner of the country, in every household of the country”.

What was said in Parliament

However, the matter occupied other committees as well as the Plenary of the Parliament.

Speaking yesterday from the floor of the Parliament, on the occasion of the bill of the Ministry of Finance, the MP of the KKE, Nikos Karathanasopoulos, mockingly wondered how it is possible to have a shortage of water “when we are drowning at every turn”. Addressing the government, he said that they treat water as a commodity “that needs to be privatized as well as its price. As he said, since 2004, the KKE has highlighted the problems of over-tourism that leads to waste. “There is water for swimming pools and there is no water for people to drink,” he noted.

From the New Left, MP Peti Perka, during the special standing committee on Institutions and Transparency, raised a question about water pricing. “I am asking if the reports are true that the Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Thessaloniki has proposed a tariff increase and that EYDAP has also left open the issue of a tariff increase. Whether there will be a cap on water consumption and tiered pricing, but I’m more interested in whether the Authority will be bypassed once again or whether it will play a role,” he said.

“Water is and will remain cheap”

However, despite what the Minister of Environment and Energy said about the increase in water prices, the Prime Minister in his radio interview yesterday seems to have closed this issue, rejecting this possibility. “We are not going for increases in water. Water is and will remain cheap for low consumption. It makes sense if you consume more you pay more. The maximum we are discussing is an increase to the limits of inflation,” he said characteristically.

“Attica does not face a water shortage problem. We had two bad winters. This water we have lasts for another 4 bad winters. We will proceed with the project of transporting water from the artificial lake of Kremasto so that we can be assured that Attica will never face a water shortage problem,” continued Mr. Mitsotakis.

Regarding the islands, the prime minister noted that “we need a better policy of coordination so that each island does not make its own policy but is done centrally. And we are talking about water supply and not irrigation” noting that “85% of the water consumed goes to agriculture and to a small extent to livestock. It is a matter of how we ensure that we have water for irrigation without leaks and how we implement the use of technology.”

#Water #shortage #Mitsotakis #increases #water #Fire #opposition #Parliament

September 15, 2024 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts