ATHENS – "Ιt is time for the government to take decisions and present and implement a detailed plan for the support of the economy to prevent the skyrocketing of the recession and of unemployment," opposition Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata said on Thursday speaking to ANT1 TV. "Instead of this we are seeing a government that delays, does U-turns and does not have a specific plan to support enterprises and employees.

Gennimata said that there are two ways to address the economic repercussions of the pandemic. "The one pole is social democracy that [KINAL] expresses with our overall stance during the crisis, which it has now become clear is the only one that can provide answers through a strong and well-organised state…. and the other is the government, the conservative and neoliberal views that are now collapsing and this is Mr. Mitsotakis' huge difficulty".

She called on the government to set snap elections scenarios to one side and get to work, stating that her party is not afraid of elections.

On the recovery of the economy and specifically on tourism, she accused the government of inertia regarding developments in Europe. She reiterated KINAL's proposals for the support of tourism businesses and those working in the sector, which foresee "a reduction of VAT on catering and accomodation to 6 pct, no advance payment of taxes and 40 pct job subsidies to open hotels. A broad social tourism programme that will support tourist businesses." She also called for the support of workers at hotels that do not open by with unemployment benefit, with an easing of social insurance contribution criteria.