Marinakis on high food prices, Kasselakis trip to Middle East

Persistently high food inflation remains the biggest problem facing Greece and the other countries in Europe, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said in an interview broadcast by Mega television on Sunday, citing figures recently released by Eurostat. He outlined measures the government

has taken to counteract the high cost of living, while also commenting on a trip by main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis to the Middle East.

"There is no precedent of a diplomatic visit to the broader region that does not include a visit to Israel," Marinakis pointed out, saying it was important not to forget that "all this started with terrorist Hamas" and that the people Hamas had killed and taken hostage were also civilians. He noted that the Greek position was "balanced", being fair toward the party defending itself, while at the same time sending a clear message for a ceasefire.

"…one can be pleasant and exercise policy only with selfies and videos, which are all well and good as long as they are accompanied by content. When this, however, is taken to the level of foreign policy it is dangerous," Marinakis noted.

He accused the main opposition leader of treating all issues "like props in his communications campaign," even at the cost of misleading voters.

Regarding the high cost of living, Marinakis emphasised that there were no "magic solutions" to deal with the problem and noted that the prime minister's letter to the president of the European Commission was only the latest in a series of measures taken by the government.

He dismissed the opposition's proposals for a reduction of VAT and taxation of excess profits as "unrealistic" and said the cost of the opposition's proposed measures would be exorbitant.

Regarding the outcome of the upcoming European elections, Marinakis said the government had every reason to be optimistic, as voters could look back at its track record and the real, measurable results it has achieved during times of great difficulty.

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