"What we see in Greece is what we want to see everywhere," stated Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, in reference to Greece’s current fiscal landscape. Her remarks, however, made no mention of the deep economic wounds still felt by much of the population, including the dramatic decline in purchasing power over the past fifteen years. Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierakakis echoed the celebratory tone, praising the country’s economic recovery, but similarly failed to acknowledge the day-to-day hardships endured by a large portion of Greek citizens. "The country has now moved past a bleak decade," he declared, abandoning even the usual lip service often paid by the government to domestic economic difficulties.

“IMF officials now speak warmly about Greece. That wasn’t the case a few years ago. Today, I stand here representing a proud nation – representing its people, who have made it through,” said Pierakakis. He went on to say only that “important steps still need to be taken to support citizens, seize new opportunities, and modernise public structures.”

According to the Athens News Agency, Georgieva met with Minister Pierakakis during the IMF’s Spring Meetings in Washington. Following their discussions, she praised Greece’s recent progress, highlighting that the country now boasts some of the best economic indicators within the European Union.

“What we see in Greece is what we want to see everywhere. Growth is higher than the average in the EU. From deficit some years ago, now we have surplus. And very important, the country is moving with structural reforms that make it more competitive in a world of more frequent shocks that would be a resilient economy, for the Greek people,” she emphasised.

Georgieva also touched on the “power of digitalisation,” noting that Greece is harnessing technology to provide efficient public services with greater transparency, eliminating any risk of corruption.

For his part, Pierakakis focused on the stark contrast between Greece’s current standing and its past status as a cautionary tale during the years of the financial crisis. He steered clear of any mention of indicators that challenge the glowing narrative of success – such as the soaring cost of living and diminished household spending power.

“Here we are, at the headquarters of the IMF, with Managing Director Ms Georgieva, fifteen years after Greece embarked on an unprecedented economic ordeal. The country has now emerged from that grey decade. We’ve returned to positive growth, to openness. Through hard work, responsibility, and reforms, we’ve stepped out of the shadows and regained the confidence of investors and markets. IMF officials now speak positively about Greece – something we couldn’t have imagined not so long ago. I’m here to represent a proud nation and its people, who have prevailed,” Pierakakis said.

In closing, he claimed that Greece can now look to the future with greater optimism, while acknowledging that significant steps are still required to support citizens, unlock new opportunities, and modernise state structures.

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