ATHENS — Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras, in his meeting with five mayors of the regional unit of Kozani on Wednesday, stressed the need for measures to support the economy in the region as it has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the plan for phasing out lignite.

Tsipras accused the government of inaction and failing to take appropriate action against the pandemic, but said that the issue was how to now deal with this reality, adding that "our primary concern is public health".

He stated that his visit to Kozani is because it is the first region of Greece where emergency measures were applied in the second wave of the pandemic.

"It's the first region in the country to be put into risk category 4 and the first region to undergo a partial lockdown process, which is still a lockdown. Only schools are open," said Tsipras.

More specifically, the measures he proposed are the following:

1. Emergency income for all those struggling to survive.

2. Employment subsidy.

3. Non-refundable aid to companies with 2,000 euros per employee.

4. Reduction of VAT on restaurants.

5. Subsidy of the rent at 40 pct for all companies.

6. Abolition of the excise duty on oil for farmers.