Greek Ministry of Finance disputes Tsipras's program cost estimates

Sources within the Greek Ministry of Finance have challenged the cost estimates of a policy program proposed by Alexis Tsipras, president of SYRIZA. While Tsipras claims the program will cost 7.5 billion euros over a four-year period, government economic staff estimate the actual cost exceeds 40 billion euros.

According to the ministry sources, the discrepancy arises from how the fiscal measures are presented. They allege that the program's cost is being misrepresented by dividing annual costs by four rather than presenting the cumulative cost, and by showing only marginal annual increases instead of cumulative totals.

Specific examples cited include the proposed 500 euro monthly salary increase for 128,000 public health workers, which sources claim costs 900 million euros annually including employer contributions, and the impact of zero-participation drug policies on the budget.