Kouttenakis: Greek champion of taxes on products and services

The head of the budget, Francesco Koutentakis, kept the distances separating from the policy followed by SYRIZA until now.

Greece has admitted that Greece is the first country out of the 16 countries in the OECD to apply VAT and excise duties.

Mr. Koutentakis also admitted that there was overpayment, which, as he said, is highlighted by the increase in outstanding debts.

It has nevertheless struck retrospective judicial decisions and the possible "tsunami" of similar refugees that they could cause in the future.

"Judicial decisions on retrospectives, which are budgetary in nature, create the possibility of other remedies, with claims for all wage and pension reductions."

Mr Koutentakis also raised the uncertainties of "the Greek economy and Greek bonds at 10 years, saying that they remain above 4% in the Italian turmoil.

Regarding the uncertainties of the economy, Francesco Koutentakis pointed out among other things

• The prevailing international conditions. As an indication, he mentioned the US-Chinese juxtaposition, interest rates and the dollar, but also the evolution of the situation in Italy.
• High yields of government securities, which keep high interest rates in the economy. Essentially, borrowing costs for businesses and households remain high, thus deterring investment projects.
• The climate created by badumptions such as Folli-Follie and capital control violations in China. Such badumptions do not help to build trust in the investment community.

Referring to the downtime, he pointed out that there was a gradual decrease, while the August increase was related to the dates of payment of the tax and to the yields. The image of "consolation" is that incomes increase and that the creation of new delays, the image that must be maintained and enlarged is reduced. As for the regulations, he noted that they should be "targeted", noting that the impression that if someone was paying taxes otherwise did not do it.

Fragiskos Koutentakis also referred to the tax burden, noting that, based on data from OECD countries, the country ranked seventh. In particular, it is a unit above average.

Finally, he noted that "if positive growth rates are maintained and higher than those of other trading partners, the current account deficit may widen if exports do not grow".