ATHENS – The government will soon announce its interventions regarding the VAT on basic products, government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou said on Wednesday in an interview with ANT1 TV.

He stressed that the government is monitoring developments because since the beginning of autumn there are signs of large price increases, which due to energy but also due to the difference between supply and demand as part of the side effects of the pandemic have increased prices all over the world.

“From the very beginning, the government, at all levels, has intervened,” he said.

Oikonomou also said that the intention of the government all the previous period was to stand by the side of society and provide substantial support in the very difficult period of the lockdown, supporting the economy but also the income, and the Greek society, adding that it will continue to do so. He explained that the support to the disposable income of households was carried out in various ways, through the increase of the minimum wage, tax reliefs, reduction of social security contributions, underlining that this will continue in the new year.

According to Oikonomou, the moves must be studied and careful because the economic support policy, which is needed by the Greek society and is in progress, should not set at risk the solid basis for the Greek economic growth, which is based on revenues, resources, and on a number of other things.