Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented the country's armament program to Parliament today. "Today, in Parliament, we will witness billions being poured into military equipment, all to serve the interests of arms dealers and war profiteers," said Gabriel Sakellariadis, Secretary of the New Left opposition party, commenting on the presentation of the 12-year Defence Equipment Plan in Parliament. "The real insecurity that families face is shown in the worry over wages and pensions that run out before the month ends," he added.

“Mitsotakis government is about to present a €28 billion over the next 12 years is the arms package. The EU’s €800 billion package for Rearm Europe is on the table as well,” Sakellariadis noted, adding:

“When a family comes together at home in the evening, they’re not anxious about the possibility of a war with Russia or Turkey.”

“If anyone is trying to convince us that war is imminent, it is to keep a political and business network alive, one that thrives on threats of ‘national security’ and the idea of projecting national power through arms deals.

“The real insecurity that families face is in worrying about wages and pensions that vanish before the month is up. It’s in the electricity bills and the cost of supermarket essentials. It’s in the long working hours (the longest in the EU) and the low purchasing power (the lowest in the EU, except for Bulgaria). It’s in the constant calls from debt collectors, the sky-high mortgage rates, and rent that doesn’t add up. It’s in the growing need for healthcare in a crumbling public health system. And it’s in the need for justice from a legal system that doesn’t protect ordinary people but instead serves the regime and its friends.”

“This is what real insecurity looks like for the Greek people. Today, tanks, frigates, missiles, and fighter jets will be paraded through Parliament. They’ll try to sell us threats to our national security and empty pride, all to distract from the real issues people face every day.

Anyone who wants peace needs to prepare for peace, not war. And anyone who cares about security must focus on solving the real problems facing their people.”

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