PM to send restart message in Thessaloniki
It is, by and large, known what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will say this weekend at the Thessaloniki International Fair, as he is expected to move conservatively, carrying a small basket in terms of benefits, but not at all conservative in terms of the big picture and what he wants to achieve by the end of his second term.
Essentially, Mitsotakis wants to send a restart message to the citizens and also to the cabinet so that it does not relax, as the last one year has not flowed for the government in the way it would have liked, having dispensed, in a short period of time, the great political capital it amassed with the 41% of the 2023 elections.
“The prime minister will attempt to fill the government’s tank at the Thessaloniki International Fair,” which many think is running out of fuel, government sources say.
His goal at the TIF will be twofold:
Firstly, in the short term, to offer specific social groups targeted benefits in order to “close holes” and reduce the possibility of further reactions and complaints that are a feature of all second terms, with young families and pensioners being the two typical categories in the frame.
The equally important second goal is to build the narrative at this year’s TIF for the next three years. Improving the National Health System (ESY), an increase in wages that is directly related to the cost of living – and which is the biggest problem for the government – and the strengthening of mass transport and infrastructure are three main areas that Mitsotakis wants to see tangible improvements in by the end of his term in 2027.
These improvements include the coming changes to the unemployment benefit that will provide a greater incentive to work rather than subsidizing unemployment, with the benefits now targeting the weakest.
