PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL) will table an amendment for the extraordinary taxation of excessive bank profits, party leader Nikos Androulakis said on Monday.
Speaking at the Ikonomikos Tachydromos Forum 2024, he clarified that "it will not be an excessive measure, since it does not contain a fiscal nature alone, but a political one as well. While people pay for high prices and small and medium-sized businesses are in dire straits, in Greece we have the greatest gap between deposit interests and loan interests, and large fees as well, after having provided billions in constant recapitalizations."
Androulakis called on banks to show a social sensitivity, "something they have not done to date," he said, "while they have already handled a lot of money from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. Therefore, our initiative is both of a fiscal and political nature."
At the same time, the party leader also announced a new legislative initiative by PASOK to manage the distortion in the real estate market and the rapid increase of rents due to the golden visa program of foreign investments. "We proposed that the golden visa program not be linked to short-term rentals. In other words, whoever buys a house on the golden visa program, this should be meant either for self-use, or for long-term rental. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I shall reintroduce the proposal, with the addition of an amendment that provides that when the golden visa holder comes to renew it in five years, they cannot lease the property short term," Androulakis said.
He cited the Bank of Greece speaking of oligopoly practices at the expense of consumers in four sectors - banks, food commerce, private health, and energy. When "we have done almost nothing to deal with these, then someone has to assume initiative," he said, adding, "if the prime minister does not have the courage to do it, we shall do so. And we shall see in Parliament that New Democracy deputies, who a few weeks ago said they had a more social attitude than the New Democracy economy team, I invite them tomorrow to show this social attitude by voting overwhelmingly for PASOK's fair amendments in the taxation bill."
Androulakis also said that he will raise the country's greatest issues during his meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday, such as the economy, inflation, housing, and the rule of law.