The Greek Parliament is set to vote later today on an emergency legislative act aimed at cushioning the impact of surging energy prices, as the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis seeks to contain the economic fallout from the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The measures, introduced as fast-track legal provisions, include fuel subsidies, broader efforts to address rising living costs, and targeted support for the agricultural sector. Among the latter are interventions linked to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the island of Lesbos, highlighting the government’s attempt to address overlapping crises.
Government defends “realistic” approach
Government officials have framed the package as a “balanced response while respecting fiscal limits.” Speaking on behalf of the Finance Ministry, Deputy Minister Georgios Kotsiras said the measures are aimed at “shielding the greek economy from the impact of the war, within our means” and without resorting to what he described as excessive spending.
The government’s parliamentary rapporteur, MP for New Democracy Dimitris Markopoulos, emphasized public trust in Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, arguing that the administration has demonstrated prudent economic management while prioritizing support for vulnerable groups.
Opposition calls for deeper cuts
Opposition parties, however, have pushed for more aggressive interventions, particularly in the form of tax reductions on fuel.
Center-left PASOK, the main opposition party, is expected to back the measures, though it has voiced concerns. MP Fragkiskos (Frenty) Parasyris described the package as too limited in scope, arguing that more substantial reforms are needed, especially in the energy sector. Still, he signaled conditional support, stating that his party would vote in favor of “every euro directed to citizens in a time of crisis.”
SYRIZA, Greece’s main left-wing opposition party, had not made its final position clear as of late Monday. Senior lawmaker Nikos Pappas accused the government of using the crisis to boost fiscal surpluses, and called for cuts to value-added tax (VAT) and fuel excise duties, in line with steps taken by other European countries.
“Are the other countries that have taken such measures breaking the rules?” Pappas said, pointing to similar policies elsewhere in Europe.
Sharp criticism from smaller parties
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has rejected the measures outright, with MP Chrhstos Tsokanis dismissing them as “token remedies” designed to mislead the public. He contrasted current energy costs with those during the socialist era, claiming households once spent a fraction of their income on energy.
Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos of New Left argued that the burden of the crisis is falling disproportionately on lower-income groups, which he described as effectively bearing the brunt of wider economic pressures.
