Just a couple of hours after the TV licenses bid concluded, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras heralded that the 246 million euro the winners will pay to the Greek state will be given to vulnerable groups of the society.
Tsipras said that that 2/3 of the money and the remaining 1/3 due by the end of 2017 will go as extraordinary actions to support vulnerable groups of the society.
Normally, support measures in form of food coupons, housing and electricity allowance for several thousands of vulnerable Greeks cost approximately 200 million euro per year.
The Prime Minister added that the €246million were beyond expectation and that if the bid was for 10 licenses [as many as the bidders] for €3million each the turnover would be just €30 million in total.
He spoke of a procedure “serving the public interest and satisfying the sense of justice.”
“There cannot be the impression that some pay high taxes, while others get bank loans without collateral,” Tsipras said with a clear hint to some (formerly) powerful media bosses. The practice that some “were more privileged than the others is over,” Tsipras added.
PS The 246 million euros are net profit for the state without Value Added Tax and other taxes, I suppose … That’s the difference between a state and a taxpaying citizen.
How about paying nurses and medical staff in the hospitals who have not seen a cent since June here in Saloniki? Or paying at least some of the thousands of suppliers to the state?
All BS. As always.
accd to my knowledge they get their salary and the delays refer to extra working time
No. Just spoke to a team yesterday. Not one cent. As I said
Call me cynical but: Note that Tsipras does not say “in addition to” the 200mil the vulnerable groups already get. 2/3 of 246 mil = c.186 mil. Don’t be surprised when the Finance ministry substitutes this lesser amount for the present 200.