kathimerini.gr
Geroulanos Condemns Greece's 2025 Budget for Unfair Tax Policies
PASOK-Movement for Change's Pavlos Geroulanos criticized Greece's 2025 budget, calling the tax policy unfair to the weak and ineffective against tax evasion by the wealthy, highlighting discrepancies between high VAT and low taxes on inheritances and dividends, and the government's shifting claims of economic success.
- What are the main criticisms of the Greek government's 2025 budget regarding its tax policy and its impact on different socioeconomic groups?
- The Greek Parliament's discussion of the 2025 budget saw harsh criticism of the government's tax policy by PASOK-Movement for Change's parliamentary representative, Pavlos Geroulanos. He accused the government of unfair policies that harm the weak while failing to address tax evasion by the wealthy. Geroulanos highlighted the government's shifting narratives on economic success, from claiming to be Europe's best to now being better than Bulgaria.
- How does the government's approach to taxation of small businesses, compared to its handling of tax evasion in sectors like fuel and cigarettes, reflect broader economic policies?
- Geroulanos questioned the fairness of the tax system, noting the high VAT rates contrasted with low taxes on inheritance and dividends. He criticized the focus on taxing small businesses via POS systems while ignoring billions lost to black market fuel and cigarette sales. This discrepancy reveals a systemic bias against vulnerable citizens and small businesses.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of the observed economic disparities and the government's responses, including the lack of investment support and its impact on various sectors?
- Geroulanos's critique points to a broader trend of widening economic inequality in Greece. The government's selective tax enforcement, favoring large corporations and the wealthy, exacerbates existing social disparities. This pattern may lead to further social unrest and erode public trust in the government's commitment to economic fairness. The lack of focus on investment and support for struggling households could hinder long-term economic growth and stability.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the government's economic policies negatively, highlighting criticisms from the opposition. The headline and introduction emphasize the strong criticism, potentially influencing the reader to perceive the policies as flawed before considering any potential counterarguments. The selection and sequencing of quotes further emphasize negative aspects.
Language Bias
The language used is somewhat charged. Terms like "αδικία" (injustice), "λάθος επιλογές" (wrong choices), and descriptions of the government's narrative as "καταρρέει" (collapsing) reflect a negative tone. More neutral alternatives could include "inequities," "policy shortcomings," and "facing challenges." The repeated use of "αδύναμους" (weak) to describe those negatively affected by the policies could also be considered loaded.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses on the government's economic policies, particularly the tax system. However, it omits discussion of potential benefits or positive aspects of these policies. Further, there is no mention of alternative economic approaches or viewpoints. The impact of specific policy measures on various demographics beyond the mentioned 'weak' is also not elaborated.
False Dichotomy
The narrative presents a false dichotomy by portraying the government's economic policies as solely benefiting the wealthy and harming the poor, ignoring the possibility of nuanced impacts or any benefits to different socioeconomic groups.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights criticism of the Greek government