Greek Deputy Minister Kontogeórgi Criticized by ELAS Over Budget Claims

The Economic Department of the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS) issued a statement accusing Deputy Minister Thanasís Kontogeórgi of presenting misleading financial calculations for the government's proposals. ELAS said his figures total 18 billion euros by combining unrelated items – 6 billion euros of deferred bank tax, 2 billion from wage increases, 2 billion from an electricity price cut, and other components – and labelled the method “mixing apples with oranges” and “alchemy”.

Kontogeórgi responded that the dispute concerns the accuracy of the data and how to ensure sustainable economic growth and fair distribution of gains. He defended the measures, arguing that the deferred tax will generate revenue for the public budget and that the electricity price reduction will be financed elsewhere, rejecting ELAS’s allegations of cost inflation.