Greece Delays Fuel Relief Measures as Opposition Attacks Government

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will present a new fuel support package at Wednesday's cabinet meeting, with the diesel subsidy expected to exceed €0.15 per litre and possibly reach €0.20. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis confirmed measures for heating oil will follow on October 14, before the winter market opens, with an estimated €200 million allocated from the fiscal reserve.

Opposition parties sharply criticised the eleven-day delay since Mitsotakis promised emergency intervention on September 17. PASOK spokesperson Costas Tsoukalas demanded immediate adoption of the party's proposals, including reducing the Special Consumption Tax on fuels to the EU minimum, returning excess VAT revenues to consumers, and taxing excess profits of oligopolies.

“Greece has transformed from a 'black sheep' economy to one growing at double the EU average”

Marinakis rejected the opposition's approach as "majority without fiscal limit," arguing Greece has transformed from a "black sheep" economy to one growing at double the EU average. He stated the government would not repeat the fiscal adjustments of the memorandum era, which he said totalled €41 billion in the first two programmes and €7 billion in the third.

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras linked the fuel crisis to broader institutional failures, citing data that nearly one in five households could not adequately heat their homes last year. He presented four policy options: cutting excise tax to the EU floor, reducing VAT, emergency market interventions, and a windfall profits tax.

The political confrontation intensified alongside the Tempe train disaster fallout. Tsipras demanded Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis resign following the referral of former deputy minister Christos Triantopoulos to the Special Court. PASOK, KKE, and New Left also attacked the government over alleged cover-up of responsibilities.