Greeks promised tax relief, wage hikes as protesters take to the streets over cost of living crunch
Summary
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised tax breaks and pay increases ahead of next year’s general election. Meanwhile, thousands protested in Thessaloniki against the rising cost of living, demanding better wages and relief from high prices.Key Facts
- Greece’s government offered more than 2 billion euros in tax breaks and wage hikes over the next year.
- The benefits target self-employed workers, farmers, village residents, retirees, and public sector employees.
- Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s economic growth of 2.1% last year and efforts to reduce public debt.
- Around 25,000 people joined union-led protests in Thessaloniki, including farmers driving tractors downtown.
- Greek workers have the lowest purchasing power in the European Union, making affordability a major issue.
- Over 3,000 police officers were deployed to manage protests and secure the prime minister’s speech venue.
- Mitsotakis has been prime minister since 2019 and is seeking a third term in an election expected in April 2027.
- The speech and protests occurred the same day as a tragic fighter jet crash near Athens that killed two pilots.
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