Katrinis: “Only Mr. Mitsotakis sees reductions in food prices”

The parliamentary representative of PaSoK, Michalis Katrinis, gave an interview on the First Program of ERT, talking about the rally in accuracy, which, as he notes, “corrodes households and businesses”.

In particular, the parliamentary representative of PaSoK emphasized:

“Increases in several basic food items are the dominant problem of Greek citizens. This is also confirmed by the recent research of the Athens University of Economics, according to which 60% of consumers buy less basic food items and have changed their eating habits, due to excessive costs.

The numbers speak for themselves. Food inflation in Greece closed at 5.4% in March, while in the eurozone it was at 1.7%. The myth of imported precision is shattered when in Greece, food inflation is more than three times the eurozone average, with prices rising at a time when in Europe they are falling.

The price of olive oil has increased by 67%, while the increases in lamb and goat in Greece, where we produce and export, are greater than the European average. Producer-to-consumer markups reach 40% and this is because there are no strong control mechanisms to prevent this market distortion.

For 2.5 years we have been living a continuous precision rally, with the government being indifferent, inactive and unable to control the market, with the result that until September 2023 not a single fine had been imposed for food adulteration and while the prices had risen a cumulative 30%!

Even the fines imposed in the last six months were the result of sectoral investigations by the Competition Commission, a year ago. If the Ministry of Development, during the tenure of Mr. Georgiadis, had taken these investigations into account, its accuracy and effects would have been mitigated.

They celebrate the government for the 2.5% price reduction in detergents and cleaners, while these products cost up to 350% more in Greece than in other European countries!

PaSoK insists and calls for the reduction of VAT on basic food items. This is a measure that was implemented in and has worked in various European countries, at a time when food inflation in Greece is three times higher than in the Eurozone.

The government argues that it is not implementing this measure because it will not ultimately reach the consumer. However, this claim is refuted by the supermarket owners themselves who say that a reduction in VAT will lead to an immediate price reduction in the consumer’s pocket.

If the government cannot ensure that a measure it votes for cannot be implemented in practice, then it is better to let another government that can do it.

Unfortunately, while punctuality is the biggest problem of the Greek family, with consumers shopping less and more expensive every month, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Development celebrate the price reductions that only they see.”