At the Maximos Palace, one meeting follows the other with the aim of putting the final touches on the package of benefits that the Prime Minister will announce at the TIF. The basket of benefits is not expected to be large. But it will be targeted at what hurts the ND, i.e. the issues of everyday life.
For Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the government’s turn to the problems of everyday life is a one-way street. And the losses of the European elections, as all the latest measurements show, do not seem to be making up.
In the government staff they know that everyday life is the government’s big bet. If she can get the message out that she can deal with her problems, she can hope for a recovery. If not, then the efforts to free the ND from the polling cord as soon as possible will fall into the void.
“Every day counts”
Mitsotakis, as reported by his colleagues, operates with the logic that “every day counts”. But also every day the message of efficiency should be transmitted. From the front of accuracy to the housing crisis and the crisis of the operation of the NHS which appears to be broken there is the need to have concrete and measurable results.
It is no coincidence that personally Mitsotakis, together with the relevant ministers, comes forward with public appearances of a “social” and “developmental” nature: from Thessaloniki he presented the “national strategy” for regional development, from long-suffering Thessaly he admitted that “the damage and the wounds are here”, presenting short-term and long-term plans, from a nursery school in Thisio spoke of “substantial support” for families with young children, etc.
The basket of benefits
The financial staff has delivered its final recommendations, while the discussion with Brussels on the additional fiscal space, in addition to the already foreseen 3 billion euros, which will allow them to “unlock” some additional interventions, is being completed. Insurance contributions are being discussed in particular (it has been announced that they will be reduced by 0.5% and possibly lock in a larger reduction that will reach 1%).
The possibility of extra benefits being directed towards ESY workers is also being discussed. What is considered certain is that an attempt will be made in the TIF basket to include measures for freelancers, pensioners and vulnerable groups.
According to information in Maximou, they are betting on 1 billion euros from community funds to extend the “My Home” program from the beginning of 2025 to up to 50 years old, while they are also focusing on tax incentives for property owners to open their closed apartments and to throw them into the long-term lease. ¨As mentioned in the relevant report, this is an issue that the right-wing ND voters are particularly pushing for (and) considering that the support of the family has been left behind.
How does the game turn?
In this context, an increase in the child allowance (and an increase in the foster care allowance) should be expected, as well as “injections” in other social benefits. As far as those with three children are concerned, it is expected, not complete identification with those with many children, but a clear strengthening of them: in other words, to obtain more privileges by “getting closer” to the group of those with many children. One of the proposals on the table is the lifelong recognition of triplets – to stop the family from losing this status and therefore the related benefits from the moment a child reaches adulthood.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s speech, his associates stress that it will have as its central philosophy the logic of “what we said, what we did, what we will do from now on”. In M. Maximou’s opinion, at the present stage the ND remains the main player in the political scene. The question is whether he can turn the game around and make up for the losses he is showing.
#day #counts #Mitsotakis #weighs #TIF #basket #Thoughts #surprise #measures
