ATHENS – The first draft law the government will table in Parliament after the vote of confidence this weekend is the government’s economic and tax-related policy for 2024, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told Real FM in an interview on Tuesday.

Some things can be resolved a bit faster, some need more time, but nothing will stay behind, Marinakis said of major outstanding issues, adding that the re-elected government of New Democracy will strive to make each day better than the previous one.

The government spokesman spoke extensively about food price inflation, nothing it remained high despite the gradual drop in overall inflation. He added that the food price inflation is nevertheless lower than the European average, and asserted that “the government will not leave anyone without helping out.” He enumerating the ongoing measures introduced during the government’s first term such as the “consumer’s basket” and energy price subsidies.

In another interview, to ANT1, Marinakis referred to the Hellenic Statistical Authority’s report on poverty in Greece, and said the report very importantly took into account the crises that emerged, the subsidies provided to the public, and the tax reductions. The report says “there is a great problem still, but (poverty) dropped by two percentage points,” he said, noting that “the numbers are high and we must continue to reduce it.”

Marinakis also clarified that “as long as there is need for support” for high energy bills, “with prices higher than usual, unlike those we paid before the crisis, there will be a corresponding support” by the government. “As long as there is need, the support will not cease,” he asserted, speaking of energy subsidies on the power bills. The government does not want citizens to pay more than what they used to pay, he added.