ATHENS – “Within 18 months, we will see the minimum wage increased three time,” stated government spokesperson Yiannis Economou in an interview on Mega TV on Tuesday, adding that “this has never happened in the country before.”

He also noted that the increase in the minimum wage was not a mere gesture but “a very substantial increase, which will boost incomes”.

Regarding the general elections, Economou said that “what is important is that the government is sticking to what it has said from the beginning, namely that the general elections will be held at the end of its four-year term. We may have the first processes from spring onwards. When we have the date of the elections, the Prime Minister will announce it to the Greek people.”

On the economy, he said that “for third consecutive month we had a decline in inflation. The hike in prices is still here and burdens the households’ economic life but Greece had the fourth largest drop in inflation in December. Whatever new possibility exists, it will be used in the Greek society’s interest”.