ATHENS – “The government’s various subsidy policies fail to address the structural repercussions of the high cost of living. Many of our fellow citizens are no longer able to meet their basic needs,” main opposition SYRIZA sector chief for development and investments, Alexis Charitsis, said late on Monday to Kontra Channel.

“We have the most expensive wholesale electricity prices in Europe, the fourth most expensive price for gasoline and explosive increases in basic necessities,” he said, adding that “wages are stagnant and the minimum wage is lower than in 2010, while in other European countries we have increases.”

“There must be serious relief for households and businesses by reducing the excise tax on fuel, a measure that has already been implemented in 19 out of the 27 EU countries, and decisive state intervention to regulate the electricity market,” he said.