Greek Elections 2023: SYRIZA’s spox promises extraordinary tax on business surpluses

During her interview, Popi Tsapanidou proceeded to announce the imposition of an extraordinary tax on the profits of businesses during the first 50 days of the SYRIZA government, in case  the event it prevails in the June 25 elections.

When the press representative of SYRIZA referred to the announcements for 50 days in the event that SYRIZA comes to power, Ms. Tsapanidou referred to “moves that have been announced” by Alexis Tsipras with acts of legislative content while she answered the question where the money will be found “there is an extraordinary taxation on corporate profits”. “In other words, 3.5 billion euros in business taxation in the first 50 days of SYRIZA. This means the flight of investments” replied the representative of New Democracy, Akis Skertsos.

“Those with excess income”

Asked, then, to define what surplus profit means, Mrs. Tsapanidou initially said that “surplus profit is defined in the same way as it was defined in other European countries by the European Union and distributed to the citizens” while to the question of which businesses this emergency concerns taxation said only “those who have excess income, what do you want me to be the Indepednet Authority for Public Revenue-AADE?”.

In the same interview with SKAI, Mrs. Tsapanidou tried to “collect” parts of the SYRIZA program that contributed to the result of the May elections in the shadow of the debate caused by the Doudonis statement that PASOK will proceed with a 15% tax on dividends for 100,000 euros and up.

“What taxation are you talking about on dividends?”

Asked about what the SYRIZA program foresees on the subject of dividend taxation, the press representative of the official opposition party, Popi Tsapanidou, although she admitted that the 15% rate exists, she nevertheless said that “it is not a priority”.

“What level of taxation are you talking about on dividends?” was the question asked to Mrs. Tsapanidou with the representative of SYRIZA replying that “yesterday Alexis Tsipras laid out his position in the interview with STAR and said that we are talking about a very small return on the budget which is not an issue worth discussing further and giving priority to”.

“A program is being developed in practice,” continued the SYRIZA spokesperson, pointing out that the reference to taxation of up to 15% of dividends is on page 7 of SYRIZA’s program, while in the question “are you withdrawing it?” Popi Tsapanidou replied that “the president said yesterday that it is not a priority to discuss something like this because the output is very small. He is not retiring, I told you that it is included in the program and yesterday Alexis Tsipras, when asked, said that its performance is small and it is not a priority.”