Main opposition PASOK–Movement for Change spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas on Monday said that Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented "an image of a prime minister on the defensive, who has now lost the initiative," in the wake of the premier's appearance at the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) on Saturday and Sunday.
In an interview with MEGA TV, he said that "the drop in purchasing power, the poor administrative capacity of the state, widespread corruption, and authoritarian arrogance have created a demand for relief that is turning into a wave of political change." He added that "government officials boast about caring for the vulnerable, while the exact opposite was clearly reflected in the prime minister’s speech."
Tsoukalas pointed out that the prime minister "forgot" small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accusing the government of moving toward their "eradication." He also said that "he said nothing about farmers," stressing that "the primary sector, already crushed by the OPEKEPE scandal and at risk of bankruptcy due to delays in subsidies, was absent from the announcements."
"And of course, the word ‘inflation’ was nowhere mentioned —as if profiteering doesn’t exist. Either he no longer even tries to hide that his policy serves cartels, or he admits he has fully given up on trying to solve the issue,” Tsoukalas continued.
The spokesperson further argued that the prime minister "showed that he has no compass for how the country should act under the new circumstances," adding that "it seems that the prime minister doesn’t know, doesn’t have a plan for the country—economic or geopolitical. He appears inert, without direction, not yet taking a position. This creates great insecurity among the people.”