Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the Greeks had resisted lies and populism, returning from bankruptcy to economic growth and to the “heart of European decision-making centres” (an allusion to the new EuroGroup president, Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis), in his address on Tuesday evening during the discussion on the Greek budget in Parliament.

“So if the slogan once was ‘we are staying in Europe,’ today, in one sense, Europe is saying: ‘we are becoming Greece.’ This success says a great deal,” he remarked.

Speaking more broadly about fiscal policy, the Greek PM said the philosophy of the state budget was aimed at supporting disposable income as an effective shield against inflation.

In his speech, Mitsotakis also referred to the housing crisis, noting it was not only a Greek problem, as the European Union is preparing new legislation that could provide additional policy tools. “This problem continues to concern Greek society,” he stressed, outlining a package of housing measures.

The first initiative is a large-scale housing renovation program that will cover up to 90% of renovation costs, with subsidies reaching as much as €36,000. Income thresholds will be relatively high, he said.

The prime minister also announced new restrictions on short-term rentals. Beyond existing limits in Athens, the measures will be extended to central Thessaloniki. In addition, in certain areas of Athens and Thessaloniki, properties used for short-term rentals will be automatically removed from the short-term rental registry when ownership is transferred.

“We are not celebrating, but neither are we dismissing reality,” he said, pointing to geopolitical uncertainty and economic turbulence that have pushed many countries toward austerity, spending cuts and tax increases.

Mitsotakis also highlighted that the largest wage increases have been in the minimum wage, stressing that Greece is now in a position to return approximately €3 billion to society rather than impose austerity measures.