Mitsotakis warns Greek cabinet on public conduct and expands debt relief to 120 instalments

Cabinet reprimand and authority

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed a cabinet meeting on 30 September 2026, delivering a direct warning to ministers and New Democracy lawmakers over their public conduct and communication. The warning followed public remarks by former minister Dora Bakoyannis, who had openly criticized ministerial arrogance and urged officials to adjust their behavior. Mitsotakis used the introductory remarks of the session to assert control over party management and remind officials that government cohesion is required during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. He cautioned that communication errors harm the administration and emphasized that tone in public debate directly shapes public perception.

In public debate, tone also produces impressions. Therefore, under these conditions, our speech must not only be persuasive, it must also be measured, unified, and precise, knowing that at the end of the day citizens will judge us all. But until then, it is my responsibility to evaluate the individual conduct of MPs and ministers.

Internal friction over official statements

The prime minister's intervention came after a series of controversial comments by high-ranking officials generated backlash inside and outside the ruling party. Health Minister and New Democracy vice president Adonis Georgiadis, alongside Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis, had drawn sharp criticism from fellow New Democracy deputies in private discussions. Friction increased following public remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theocharis, who used the term "paupers" during public discussion, as well as statements from lawmakers Spyros Koulkoudinas and Kostas Tsiaras pointing to urban traffic congestion as proof of social prosperity. Mitsotakis urged party members to defend government policy with modesty and pride rather than dismiss the financial strain on households. He instructed ministers to speak about the entire collective record of the government rather than solely discussing their own specific ministry portfolios.

Economic interventions and debt relief

During the same cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis announced several economic support measures designed to ease financial pressure on households and businesses facing energy costs. The centerpiece of the fiscal package is an expansion of the repayment framework for overdue tax and state liabilities, raising the maximum number of payment instalments from 72 to 120.

The administration also increased fuel subsidies for diesel, introduced targeted heating support, and announced stricter operating rules for loan servicers. Mitsotakis confirmed that the government will re-examine and adjust these support measures every 15 days based on economic conditions. He also sent a formal letter to the European Commission president to request additional emergency flexibility for European Union member states navigating fiscal constraints.

Opposition critique and social media regulation

In his address, Mitsotakis contrasted his policy approach with that of opposition parties, arguing that political rivals offer unfeasible promises and copy piecemeal policies from other countries without sustainable results. He stated that the government must openly acknowledge daily cost-of-living struggles while maintaining fiscal discipline, warning that there are no magic solutions to international instability. He also called on political personnel and citizens to resist propaganda tricks and fake news in public debate. Beyond economic relief, Mitsotakis announced that the government will introduce a legislative bill establishing a strict age limit of 15 years for children accessing social media platforms.