2024-05-13 14:56:07
The dean of the Greek Parliament, Member of Parliament for the Dodecanese, Vassilis Ypsilantis, in his interview with “d” points out the need to restore the reduced VAT rates on our islands, as an essential measure to strengthen insularity and reduce transport costs, as an obligation of the Greek Government .
Mr. Ypsilantis points out that his priority is always the Dodecanese and referring to policies that will contribute to the development of the islands, he speaks of the need for a new local-regional planning, for major interventions that will give further life to what we have achieved so far today.
Mr. Ypsilantis, on the occasion of the upcoming European elections in June, talks about the rise of the extreme right in Europe, the dilemma of accuracy that may function as a protest vote, the stability of the country with the government of K. Mitsotakis and on the occasion of what observed in the recent self-governing elections, argues that any discontents should not stand in the way of challenging the power of New Democracy.
The interview in detail:
• Mr. Ypsilanti, it is known that you do not let an issue “fall down”. But it is clear that your experience in Parliament also plays a role in the selection of issues on our islands that still need improvement. Where can we expect positive developments?
My priority, Mrs Pambri, is always the Dodecanese. The needs of our islands and their people. Committed to advancing problems and finding solutions. In the small and the big ones. In addition to parliamentary interventions, the Dodecanese expect a lot from the network of resources of the Public Expenditure Program, the NSRF and the Recovery and Resilience Fund, mainly in the health and environment sectors. Based on the programming only pleasant therefore we can expect.
And it is a fact that completing the pending is a gamble. As examples, I mention the works at the Rhodes Hospital and the National Theatre. At the same time, the daily assertion of the elimination of the adverse effects caused by insularity is my main concern. With a vision and without, as you say, letting something fall down.
However, we need a new local-regional planning, for major interventions that will give further life to what we have achieved so far. And at this point I am waiting for full support of such options and plans.
• What do you make of the conclusion of major research by the European Council on Foreign Relations that the next European Parliament will swing decisively to the far right, with inevitable consequences for EU law in a number of key areas, from the environment to immigration. Are you concerned or do you consider the rise of the extreme right in our country to be temporary?
The rise of the far right in Europe is a worrying phenomenon. A phenomenon that requires a conscious and careful treatment by European societies and EU institutions, with the aim of promoting the values of the European acquis and democracy. The weapon of the extreme right is populism and the promise of situations that may sound pleasant but are extreme. Let’s not forget that Europe itself paid dearly in the past, from like-minded nationalists, with the bloodiest war in the history of our continent.
In our country, all the parties that belong to the extreme right, apart from the common characteristics with their European like-minded people, advocate extreme and impractical things, threatening the existence and development of the institution that has brought peace and prosperity to Europe for more than 70 years.
Our compatriots have had enough of words and have seen on the one hand the country collapsing but also standing up again and from being an example to be avoided to becoming an example to be imitated.
I am sure that this positive development, for all Greek men and women, will not be attributed to any extreme. Right or left. The European vote is also a national vote. And the choice of every thinking Greek is one. New Democracy in Europe too, with the European People’s Party first force!
• Can we compare national and European elections or vice versa?
They are two different elections, but they serve the same common purpose. Democracy and the choice of the best for governance on the one hand at the European level and on the other at the national level.
• Do you estimate that the percentage of the ND in the Dodecanese will move to the level of the national elections or the irregularities that occurred in terms of the unity of the faction in the elections of the TA, will bring about a drop in the percentages of the ND, as the European elections have always been a ballot box of protest or loose vote?
The appeal of New Democracy in the Dodecanese is broad and strong. I am certain that this fact will also contribute to the broad victory of New Democracy throughout the territory in the European elections.
Any dissatisfactions, whether they concern the local elections or the general problems of the country, should not stand in the way of the realization of this goal.
In any case, the citizens should not ignore and allow people who have been tried, either in the past with PASOK, or during the SYRIZA-ANEL government period, or the extremists who degrade the political life of the country, with any favorable result for them , to challenge the fresh popular mandate to Kyriakos Mitsotakis and New Democracy. Not to allow, that is, under the pretext that the vote is relaxed and anyone could make choices that will simply send a message, to question the power of New Democracy.
• The ND talks about stability, but despite the efforts being made, the government has not managed to tame the monster of precision that flattens even the increase in the minimum wage. Are you afraid that with these economic data the citizen will decide?
Your question is twofold. First, regarding political stability. We have political stability, because the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis is providing answers to all the major problems of the country, projects are being implemented that were bogged down in the past, the resources of both the public investment program and the Union resources are being used to the maximum, while the economic indicators are stable improved. There is certainty and security and the country’s international status is unquestionable.
The second is the taming of accuracy. An external reality which, however, is fought in every way. By raising wages and reducing taxes, with emergency aid for the most vulnerable, with controls and fines, with the e-consumer to find the cheapest supermarket for 3,000 codes.
I believe that every thinking citizen should neither ignore nor applaud all of this. For these reasons I am convinced that the government’s effort for the betterment of the country and its citizens will ultimately be evaluated positively.
• The government as well as foreign press publications praise the macroeconomic achievements of our country, while according to Eurostat data, the purchasing power of the Greeks is in the penultimate position of the EU of 27. Where is the truth hidden?
It is a fact that the macroeconomic figures in our country are improving. On the other hand, inflation has slashed the salary of the average Greek employee, resulting in a reduction in the purchasing power of Greeks. This is a reality which, however, must be complemented by the fact that according to the UBS Global Wealth report, Greece is in 25th place, which means that the wealth of the average adult Greek is increasing. I am sure that the reduction in inflation will reverse the indicators in the part of our purchasing power.
• You have repeatedly referred to the issue of reinstating the reduced VAT rates on our islands. According to a relevant study by the Economic Chamber and with the request brought back to the fore by the Rhodes Hotel Association with a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the amount does not exceed 80 million euros. The amount is not too big for the government to negotiate. Is it time to put ND’s commitment into action?
I would like to remind that as a Member of Parliament for Dodecanese in the period 2012 to 2015 I had emphasized that the reduced VAT rates in our islands it would not be abolished with a New Democracy government. Things changed with the 2015 elections where SYRIZA and ANEL formed a government and I was not elected as an MP. Then, with the 3rd memorandum, SYRIZA proceeds with the criminal act of abolishing the reduced VAT rates. in our islands. When New Democracy was elected in 2019, it started negotiations with the European Commission so that the Greek government could once again be allowed to impose reduced VAT rates on the Greek islands. From the negotiations, the Commission accepted the possibility of implementing the measure from 2025.
I believe that for equality, equality, the minimum that the Greek government should do, with this positive decision of the Commission, which it requested, is to restore the reduced VAT rates. in our islands.