Greek government criticizes PASOK over multi-billion euro pledges at Thessaloniki fair

Government response to Thessaloniki press conference

Greek government spokesperson and Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis issued an official statement on 13 September 2026 responding to PASOK president Nikos Androulakis. The government reaction followed a press conference delivered by Androulakis earlier in the day at the Thessaloniki International Fair, where the opposition leader outlined his economic and social platform. Marinakis criticized the platform as an irresponsible return to past political practices characterized by expansive public spending commitments. He argued that Androulakis managed to turn the clock back to the era of "there is money" or even further to the years of "give it all away". Marinakis stated that the political and economic landscape has changed since those periods, emphasizing that illusions have ended and borrowed money has run out.

Policy proposals on labor, wages, and taxation

The government spokesperson outlined the individual economic measures that Androulakis presented during his address at the trade fair. PASOK's platform included the introduction of a four-day working week for Greek workers. Androulakis also promised the restoration of a 13th monthly salary as well as the return of a 13th pension payment for retirees. In addition to these labor and retirement commitments, the opposition program proposed the buyout of non-performing red loans held by borrowers. The economic package also incorporated wide-ranging tax cuts, pledging general reductions in both direct and indirect taxation across the economy.

Fiscal criticism and uncosted spending claims

Marinakis argued that the cumulative cost of the measures outlined by Androulakis would amount to many billions of euros in government expenditure. He stated that the PASOK leader presented these extensive commitments without explaining where the required funds would be obtained. The spokesperson emphasized that the opposition platform omitted any clear mechanism for funding large-scale public benefits alongside general tax reductions. Marinakis maintained that leaving the financing unanswered obscures the real cost of the program. He concluded that the ultimate financial burden of these unfinanced promises would fall directly upon taxpayers.

The only thing the president of PASOK forgot to tell us is who will pay the bill. The answer is easy to this question: the Greek people.

Opposition contest between PASOK and Tsipras

The government statement also focused on the political rivalry between PASOK and a new political party founded by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Marinakis noted that PASOK had argued that the new Tsipras party copied a large portion of PASOK's programmatic platform. The spokesperson characterized the dynamic between the two opposition parties as an escalating contest over handouts and welfare pledges. He stated that the government had no intention of acting as a referee to decide which opposition faction copied the other first. Marinakis concluded his statement with a direct remark on the competition between the two left-of-center political leaders.

Regardless, although we cannot act as a referee over who copied whom first, we wish them good luck on the field of overbidding and may the best populist win.