There are few times when, as Greeks, we feel proud at the European level.
One such moment is the election of the Minister of Finance and Economy Kyriakos Pierrakakis to the position of President of the Eurogroup.
An election that marks a national success which surpasses party lines and gives hope for the Greek economy in a gray and difficult period across Europe.
And this is because the challenges are many, as Eurozone countries such as France present fiscal deficits, a fact that makes the role of the Eurogroup exceptionally important.
Pierrakakis’ successful ministerial terms
However, the advancement of Kyriakos Pierrakakis at the European level, apart from the return of the Greek economy to the role of regulator, also changes the parameters in the Greek political scene. Pierrakakis’ success in the Eurogroup constitutes the culmination of a successful political path, with difficult but successful terms in crucial ministerial posts.
The Ministry of Digital Governance, where we saw critical reforms in the digitalization of state services to the benefit of citizens, and the Ministry of Education, where we saw the emblematic, perhaps the greatest reform of the Mitsotakis administration, the establishment of non-state universities in the country.
Positive performance at the Ministry of Finance
But even in these few months during which he served at the Ministry of Finance, the outcome is wholly positive, with key characteristics being the increase in tax revenues, a new tax environment far more favorable for families and the middle class, investments approaching the European average, a debt declining relative to GDP, a reduction in unemployment and an increase in incomes.
A strong asset against scandal-mongering and failures
Undoubtedly, Pierrakakis represents a move by Mitsotakis that proved successful, in contrast to other figures he was forced to dismiss over the years. And in that sense, he represents the positive side of the government in the face of ministerial scandals and major governmental missteps.
Cross-party acceptance and popularity among the youth
At the same time, the European advancement of Pierrakakis lays the foundations also for Pierrakakis’ advancement in the Greek political landscape.
He remains a very popular minister, with strong appeal among the youth, something very important and rare, with cross-party acceptance, a fact that may play a role in the future. He is an incoming, not an outgoing politician. He represents the new generation of politicians with a technocratic approach and expertise, and not an old mentality of political hacks with a penchant for handshakes and patronage.
Overall, the achievement of the leadership of the Eurogroup constitutes a huge opportunity for logic and pragmatism to emerge against the myopic approaches of the Franco-German axis and of Brussels, which have been deemed failures, such as the overall stance of the EU toward the Ukrainian issue.
Finally, a country which ten years ago was on the brink of bankruptcy and was treated as a black sheep will now, through Pierrakakis, set the agenda within the Eurozone. And from this perspective, Pierrakakis’ victory is very good news amid the grayness of the rest of the news cycle.
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