Greek political dispute over inflation data

Political tension has emerged in Greece regarding the accuracy of economic data and the cost of living. On November 3, 2026, PASOK-KINAL spokesperson Evangelia Liakouli criticized a Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) report, alleging that rising inflation and a lack of productive restructuring are damaging citizen incomes. She noted that core inflation had risen to 3.4% and highlighted that negative household savings rates indicate incomes are insufficient to cover basic needs.

By November 8, 2026, the Greek Ministry of Development issued a rebuttal to Theoni Koufonikolaki, spokesperson for the Greek Left Coalition (EL.A.S.), accusing her of presenting inaccurate cost of living data. The Ministry contested specific inflation figures for essential goods, such as milk, olive oil, and coffee, citing different percentages based on ELSTAT data. Specifically, the Ministry stated that milk prices rose by 23.8% rather than 58.8%, olive oil by 30.6% instead of 111.1%, and coffee by 43.1% rather than 72.7%.

Ministry officials compared the current administration to the previous SYRIZA era, claiming that "the lies of the SYRIZA era continue in the era of EL.A.S." and asserting that "bad habits do not break." The Ministry noted that during the period in question, the minimum wage increased by 40% and market violation fines reached their highest levels in decades.