Speaking on the draft state budget, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis claimed that:

“Greece is now a reference point for the stability and consistency of economic policy. This recognition by European and international institutions is the result of collective effort, responsibility and a firm reform orientation. Maintaining fiscal balance, combined with continued investment and structural changes, is the basis for sustainable development and a substantial improvement in the living standards of all citizens.”

Marinakis announced that “the draft state budget for 2026 was submitted for discussion to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs of Parliament.” Beginning his briefing to political editors, he asserted that despite “increased uncertainty in the global economic environment, the Greek economy is expected to continue for the sixth consecutive year to record a significantly higher real growth rate than the eurozone average.”

According to the government, growth is projected to reach 2.2% in 2025 and 2.4% in 2026. Nominal GDP is expected to rise from €249.6 billion in 2025 to €260.9 billion in 2026, while inflation is forecast to slow from 2.6% to 2.2% over the same period. Investment is projected to grow from 4.5% in 2024 to 5.7% in 2025 and 10.2% in 2026, supported by an expanded public investment programme of €16.7 billion compared with €14.6 billion in 2025. The government also anticipates unemployment will fall to 8.6% in 2026—the lowest rate since 2008.

Marinakis repeated that “Greece is now a reference point for the stability and consistency of economic policy,” attributing this supposed success to “collective effort, responsibility and a firm reform orientation.”

He added that the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, has submitted for public consultation (until 22 October) a draft law entitled “Tax Reform for Demographics and the Middle Class – Support Measures for Society and the Economy.”

The proposed legislation, which includes the measures announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair, features tax changes such as a two-percentage-point reduction for incomes between €10,000 and €40,000, a new scale up to €60,000, and further reductions for families with children. It also introduces zero income tax for large families and for young people up to 25 years old, a 9% rate for those up to 30, a 50% ENFIA reduction from 2026 with full exemption from 2027 for settlements of up to 1,500 residents (1,700 in Evros), and a 25% rate for rental income between €12,000 and €24,000. Additional provisions include a 30% VAT reduction on border islands, a 30% deduction for electronic payments to specified professionals, and a reduction in on-call taxation for doctors.

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