ATHENS – The government’s dual mission is to lead the way in growth but also to support the citizens, as New Democracy (ND) is truly a progressive party and a party of the people, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at the start of the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

At the same time, he criticised the opposition parties for their stance on the digital card for subsidising food purchases, talking of “champagne socialists” and “luxury liberals”.

“A policy that concerns 85 percent of families can’t be considered a benefits policy,” the prime minister said, while adding that “a temporary defence measure during emergency crises cannot be compared with the pre-election ‘handouts’ of other eras”.