Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said family support represents a lasting policy choice and investment in society's future rather than a temporary handout, in an opinion piece published Monday in the newspaper Apogevmatini centered on Greece's new child savings program.
Mr. Marinakis, who also serves as deputy minister to the prime minister, highlighted the "piggy bank" savings account for every newborn, under which the state matches family contributions up to €1,200 annually.
The accumulated funds, invested at varying risk levels, are meant to provide a substantial financial cushion by the time a child turns 18, which Mr. Marinakis said would expand young people's options for education, career starts or other major expenses.
Mr. Marinakis situated the program within a broader set of family-support measures, including a one-time €150 payment per dependent child that reached 80% of households, a birth grant scaled up to €3,500, and an extension of maternity leave protections to nine months for salaried workers, farmers and self-employed professionals.
He also cited housing assistance programs, rent rebates, and a planned 2027 tax overhaul that would zero out income tax for families with many children and offer significant relief for families with three children.
Writing partly from his own perspective as a new parent, Mr. Marinakis acknowledged that problems facing Greek families remain unresolved but said the government is planning responsibly for the future, placing family policy at the center of its agenda.