Greek govt announced 1.1 mln€ in emergency subsidies to deflect sky-high energy costs

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening again took to the national airwaves, this time to announce support measures to off-set skyrocketing energy costs for more vulnerable groups.

The spending package aims to deflect costs for households and low-income wage-earners.

Details will be unveiled on Thursday by relevant ministers, as Mitsotakis made the announcement while in quarantine from his residence, given that he tested positive for Covid-19 this week.

The aid package was calculated at 1.1 billion euros and aimed at 3.2 million people in the country of roughly 11 million residents, including households with taxable income of up to 30,000 euros annually and low-income pensioners.

The announcement came amid continuing and unprecedented increases for fuels, natural gas and electricity, and in the face of rising criticism by the political opposition in the country.

Mitsotakis referred to a “generous state subsidy for power bills, and a partial off-setting of fuel costs, covering for up to 180 liters worth of passenger vehicle petrol.”

These are combined with specific relief measures for farmers and small-to-medium sized enterprises, “which are afflicted the most by high electricity bills.”

Beyond spending, the Greek PM also said the government will proceed with another reduction in the unpopular property tax (ENFIA) and was contemplating another hike in the minimum monthly wage scale.