Greek members of parliament approved the 2026 budget after a five-day debate, with 159 votes in favor and 136 against, following sharp exchanges over the farmers’ blockades, high prices and the OPEKEPE scandal.
Veteran lawmakers said the atmosphere in parliament this year differed markedly from previous budget debates. Traditionally, the vote on the budget — the most important parliamentary moment of the year — draws full attendance in the chamber.
The five-day debate was marked by largely empty benches across almost all parties, with many lawmakers appearing only briefly for their speeches before leaving. Those remaining in the chamber were mostly the same familiar faces — the parties’ parliamentary spokespeople — each delivering their line.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the budget aims to support disposable income as a shield against inflation. He also outlined measures to address the housing crisis, including a large-scale renovation program covering up to 90% of costs and new restrictions on short-term rentals in Athens and Thessaloniki.
The prime minister highlighted that Greece has returned to economic growth, with wage increases focused on the minimum wage, and said the state is now able to return around three billion euros to society rather than impose austerity measures.
