The full interview of the Minister of State Maki Voridis on “Parapolitika 90.1”, started from the social issue of alcohol consumption by minors in entertainment venues.
A subject for which he said that the government is studying complex actions, such as the obligation to verify identity for people who appear to be minors, strengthening controls, etc. He reminded, in fact, that “in the past it was a criminal act (misdemeanor) to provide alcohol, under SYRIZA this provision was abolished and only the administrative character remained”. “That’s what we’re talking about now, bringing back the misdemeanor,” he explained. “The crucial thing is control and when you make it a criminal offense, the Police can also control”, which, according to M. Voridis’ opinion, is correct.
On the economic front, the Minister of State underlined the continuous tax reductions and the curbing of inflation. In any case, he added, “the accuracy cannot be controlled by the government with a ministerial decision, we do not determine the prices”.
On the issue of wages and after referring to the Community Directive, which affects the amount of the wage, he wondered: “Could the workers achieve through collective bargaining the increases that the government has given them?”. After all, he added, “we didn’t say when we were voted in that we would raise the minimum wage to 2,000 euros, we said that at the end of the four years we would raise it to 950.”
Of course, in the governmentwe’ve never denied that accuracy is a problem,” but “increases in incomes are outpacing increases in the consumer index». The last observation of the Minister of State in finance is that “due to the demand for work there are better salaries, the average salary is over 1,250 euros and at the end of the four years over 1,500 euros”.
In purely political terms, “we do not have any discussion about the electoral law”, he emphasized, while for Mr. Karamanlis and Samaras reiterated that “the former prime ministers and former presidents of New Democracy have a special, privileged treatment: they express their opinions with freedom and their opinions are not commented on”. While, as a general observation, he stated that an opinion would produce a political event if ten ND MPs did not vote for a bill tomorrow.
On the question of whether former Prime Minister A. Samaras will not vote for the budgetif this is a very serious political event, the Minister of State answered in one word: “Major”, but adding that “I don’t imagine there is such a case and anyway it has not been expressed”. And, he closed the relevant answer by noting that “our Parliamentary Group, for 5.5 years, has supported all, but absolutely all, government choices, there has been no such precedent”.
On the occasion of the deadly floods in Valencia, he noted that “we have taken the case of civil protection as far as it can go, we have ended it”. “But if this has shielded us from any possible disaster, the answer is no,” he clarified.
In Greek-Turkish, with an introductory remark that “we are doing well and talking with Turkey”. He also stated, “I wish we could find a common code (on the so-called heavy issues)” pointing out: “but is it up to us? If the Turks come and tell these various stories and do not accept certain basic rules, what should we do?”
And in the meantime, “I listen very carefully to what the Minister of Foreign Affairs says because he is discussing and he will bind our country. I listen to the prime minister and the minister.” However, he added, “I don’t see that we have deviated from the fixed positions of Greek foreign policy”.
For the American elections, he expressed his personal approach: “For me everything that is right is good.” Asked, however, about what the former President and re-candidate for Giannis Antetokounmpo said: “Trump wanted to say something else and said this nonsense, and what he said is absolutely wrong and bad.” After all, “the Greek State will cooperate with whatever leadership choice the American people make.” While to the question, if the end of the world will come if Donald Trump wins, he answered: “Well, of course not.”
The last topic of the interview, the next President of the Republic: “When this beautiful debate opens, which I think will open towards the end of the term of the current President, then we will make positions”, he said in closing.
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**Interview with Minister of State Maki Voridis on Alcohol Regulations and Economic Policies**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Minister Voridis. Let’s start with a pressing issue: alcohol consumption by minors in entertainment venues. You mentioned the government’s plan to reintroduce criminal penalties for providing alcohol to minors. Can you elaborate on why this change is necessary?
**Maki Voridis:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we believe that the previous approach, which downgraded this issue to an administrative violation, was insufficient. We are looking to strengthen controls and ensure the safety of our youth. By reinstating the misdemeanor status, we empower law enforcement to act more effectively. This is about protecting minors and reinforcing parental responsibility as well.
**Interviewer:** That sounds like an important move. Switching gears, let’s discuss economic issues. You talked about ongoing tax reductions and inflation control. Given the current economic climate, how optimistic are you about managing these challenges?
**Maki Voridis:** While the government can influence the economy through tax policy, it cannot directly control prices. We are making strides with tax cuts and fostering an environment where wages are rising—average salaries are now above 1,250 euros, and we aim to continue this trend. It’s a delicate balance, but I believe we’re on the right path.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned wages previously. Some critics argue that recent wage increases are still not keeping pace with the cost of living. How do you respond to those concerns?
**Maki Voridis:** We acknowledge that inflation is a legitimate issue. However, we have to look at the broader picture—wage increases are outpacing inflation rates in many sectors. Through collective bargaining, workers can achieve better pay that meets their needs without placing excessive strain on employers or the economy.
**Interviewer:** Let’s talk politics. There’s speculation regarding the electoral law and potential shifts within the party. What’s your stance on this?
**Maki Voridis:** As of now, there’s no active discussion about changing the electoral law. We have a strong sense of unity within the New Democracy party. The opinions of former leaders like Mr. Samaras and Mr. Karamanlis are respected, and while their words can carry weight, we remain focused on our policy objectives.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, if a significant figure like Mr. Samaras were to vote against a budget, what would that mean for the government?
**Maki Voridis:** It would be a major political event, without question. But I want to stress that we have not seen indications of that happening, and our parliamentary group has consistently supported our initiatives. Stability in our votes is key to maintaining our progress.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Minister Voridis. Your insights on these issues are invaluable, and we appreciate your time today.
**Maki Voridis:** Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to discuss these critical topics.
