Greek opposition slams PM over inflation blame and inaction on Turkey

PASOK spokesperson Kostas Choutalas sharply criticized the Prime Minister, accusing him of repeating a "false narrative" that the war in Iran is the sole cause of inflation. Choutalas argued that the Prime Minister is ignoring the roles of cartels and his own government's responsibilities in the escalating prices.

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The Prime Minister repeated the familiar false narrative that the sole cause of inflation is the war in Iran. As if there are no cartels and his own responsibilities.

Choutalas highlighted a significant disparity in inflation rates, questioning how Greece's 5.2% inflation compares to the European average of 3.2%. He pointed out that Greece experiences more than double the European average inflation for key goods such as meat, fresh milk, vegetables, and citrus fruits, as well as for agricultural production costs.

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How do you explain that inflation in our country is at 5.2%, while in the rest of Europe it is at 3.2%?

The PASOK spokesperson further accused the government of refusing to strengthen the Competition Committee, establish a unified consumer authority with producer and consumer participation, reduce indirect taxation, control internal overpricing by multinational corporations, and supervise the supply chain. He raised concerns about whether the state is exploiting inflation to profit from increased prices and generate excessive surpluses.

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How do you explain that for meat, fresh milk, vegetables, citrus fruits, and the cost of agricultural production, inflation is more than double the European average?

Additionally, Choutalas criticized the Prime Minister for failing to address Turkish provocations during a European Council summit, especially following the European Parliament's condemnation of Turkey's practices. He emphasized that European solidarity should not be selective and that the Prime Minister should have pushed for similar condemnation in the Council's conclusions, particularly after the Parliament's resolution on sovereign rights.

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European solidarity cannot be à la carte.