Viral TikTok video of Koutsoumbas: Is it harder to find a home under €500 or a rabbitfish on the beach?

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), has leveraged a viral TikTok video to draw attention to the pressing issue of housing affordability and the impact of rising costs on households.

“

What is more difficult to find, a rabbitfish on the beach or a home under 500 euros?

In the video, Koutsoumbas poses a rhetorical question: "What is more difficult to find, a rabbitfish on the beach or a home under 500 euros?" This sharp, albeit humorous, framing directs criticism towards the government, suggesting its efforts against inflation are ineffective and disproportionately burden the populace. Koutsoumbas argues that the government's actions primarily benefit those profiting from the crisis, offering only a "friendly pat on the back" to the wealthy.

Koutsoumbas links the broader issue of inflation directly to the housing crisis, citing high rents and the diminishing purchasing power of citizens. He illustrates the severity of the situation by noting that a typical two-bedroom apartment in Attica can consume up to 70% of the average salary, a figure rising to 93% for a three-bedroom unit when rent or mortgage payments and utilities are included. This leaves many individuals struggling to cover basic living expenses, facing a stark choice between necessities.

“

The only blow the government manages in the war against inflation is a friendly pat on the back of those who profit daily at our expense. One thing is certain: In the war against inflation, the blows always fall on the people!

The KKE is organizing an event on July 1st in Glyfada to address the right to housing. Koutsoumbas emphasizes that the discussion will focus on the fundamental need for shelter as a prerequisite for life, rather than mere construction. He frames the issue as a conflict between corporate profits and people's lives, urging participation in the event to discuss how a young person or worker can live without dedicating their entire income to rent. The party's message is clear: housing is not just real estate; it is life itself.

“

Housing is not real estate. It is life.