Exit from the economic crisis – Tax decreases – Funds for Health and Education. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tried to uplift the broken Greek spirit by vaguely promising that “things can only get better”.
At the International Fair of Thessaloniki, Greek prime ministers traditionally outline packages of positive and benefits measures for citizens and society that would go info effect within a couple of months or in the following year. However, this time, Alexis Tsipras’s basket of promises for the near future was rather empty. So he made promises for the far future, a period of after two years.
First of all, the Greek Prime Minister promised “exit from the crisis” within the next 5 years.
Then he promised tax decreases in the next two years.
He spoke of the planned replacement of Unified Property Tax (ENFIA). This has been known for a couple of weeks, the government plans to replace the ENFIA with a new tax called simply “Property Tax”. Name it whatever you want, the property tax will not include ‘tax free amount” as the ENFIA does, so it looks that it will be worse.
He also announced that the 246 million euro the state will have received by the end of 2017 from the TV licenses bid will be spent on Health and Education. On September 2nd, PM Tsipras had announced that the money would be spent on vulnerable groups of the society.
In an effort to fulfill the outstanding promise of enhancing personnel in public hospitals, Tsipras announced that 10,000 people -medical and nursing personnel – will be hired in the next month.
A further promise which I believe is most likely to materialize is that he announced “freezing of debts in social security funds for self-employed and freelancers.” The debts will not be written-off, but debtors will be able to receive ‘clearance’ if they are committed to their current obligations. The measure will affect outstanding debts until 31. December 2016.
At the same time, the Prime Minister underlined that he has full understanding that “low-incomers are losing their ability to pay taxes” and warned those with “hidden incomes” saying “the period of immunity is over.”
PS A friend told me today, that Tsipras’ announcements were very good and promising and that she hoped to have a job abroad when it comes to the next elections, so she won’t face the dilemma of which party she will have to vote for.
My friend is 55 years old. I thought dry humor was a British character feature.
ZIMBABWE AND GREECE HAVE IN COMMON
Final demand: debt defaulters
Zimbabwe- is being hit by a tidal wave of debt –
*Defaulters are on the rise as the ailing economy continues to hit ordinary citizens hard.
“In Zimbabwe, [once] you get out of employment, there is very slim chance, if any chance at all, that you will get alternative employment.”
unemployment rate now stands at about 90%. MR TSIPRA JUST ADDED TO THE STATS WITH CLOSING 4 TV CHANNELS
MR TSIPRA WERE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A EUROPEAN COUNTRY AND A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY?
Wow, all the journalists that were demanding since 2010 lay-offs and cuts don’t like it an any more?
But you’re right, after 500 years of slavery it’s time to change and have it the other way round, like Europeans being slaves for the 3rd world for the next 500 years – this would also be nice to the planet.
it was the lay-offs and cuts for the others :p
Well, to tell the hideous truth French correspondant Jean Quatremer used to consider that on his personal scale of civilization Greece was closer to Zimbabwe than Europe (the fact, he said, peoples are no aware of it explains they don’t get what’s about reforming Greece).
There is one thing this pitiful caricature of a prime minister did not dare say in his speech and it goes like this: “… and once I have closed down all businesses, given away for free all roads, harbours, utilities and antiquities, killed half the population by starvation and zero healthcare, Angela promised that she will pay the next instalment for me and my buddies”.
Any resemblance to 3rd world practices is purely coincidental.
“Then he promised tax decreases in the next two years.”
That reminds me of the signs you often see in British pubs:
“Free beer tomorrow”.
LOL