Mitsotakis announces sweeping program
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has unveiled a €1.6 billion package aimed at tackling Greece’s long-running demographic challenges. Presenting the plan at the Thessaloniki International Fair, he said it was designed to ease the costs of family life and persuade younger Greeks to remain in the country. Due to launch in 2026, the initiative includes wide-ranging tax reductions, exemptions for households with multiple children, and incentives for people to move to underpopulated rural and island areas. Pensioners and low-income families are also set to receive additional financial help.
Numbers highlight the urgency
The government’s move comes in response to worrying demographic trends. The Hellenic Statistical Authority recorded just 71,455 births in 2023, among the lowest figures in decades. Fertility levels remain well below replacement rates, while years of youth emigration have deepened the decline, leaving villages empty and adding stress to the pension system. Mitsotakis described the new measures as a decisive step to confront what he called one of the country’s most serious long-term threats.
Critics raise doubts
The plan has already prompted debate. Opposition politicians and experts argue that tax relief alone will not reverse entrenched social and economic patterns. Demographers stress that without stronger support for childcare, affordable housing, and job stability, families may still avoid having more children. The €1.6bn price tag has also attracted scrutiny, as the government must balance the initiative with European Union fiscal requirements. Detailed legislation is expected to be presented later this year, with parliamentary debate scheduled before the measures are enacted in 2026.
