The reduction of public debt provides the foundation for growth and success, Deputy Prime Minister and former finance minister Kostis Hatzidakis said in a post on social media on Wednesday.
Accompanying the post was a Eurostat chart, "Changes in general government gross debt to GDP ratio, 2024Q4 compared to 2023Q4", showing that Greece had registered the greatest reduction of debt to GDP ratio among all European countries.
"Is there anyone who does not believe Greece's great national success for yet another year, of perfroming the best in Europe in reducing public debt? If yes, let them come forward and say so - that they prefer, that is, a high public debt, deficits, and, in the end, new memorandums!" Hatzidakis said in his post.
He added that "the drop in debt and the avoidance of deficits are the foundation on which growth and success are built. We will therefore continue to take great steps forward in the economy. And the prophets of doom will continue to be disproven by reality itself!"
In another post commenting on now the overperformance of the primary surplus led to a social dividend (supporting tenants and low-income pensioners), Hatzidakis said that two key reforms were responsible. "The answer is in the economy's growth. But also in the promotion of two very important reforms: the 11 initiatives to reduce tax evasion, and the implementation of the Digital Work Card."