“Pierrakakis Exposes Tsipras’ Referendum: The End of Illusions!”

The 2015 Referendum: From Illusions to Fiscal Realism

“The referendum was a pivotal moment for Greece,” emphasized Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The country paid a heavy price due to illusions and unrealistic political choices, and this experience became a hard lesson in fiscal responsibility.

Today, Greece is in a virtuous economic cycle, based on:

• Fiscal discipline: Avoiding the temptation of easy fixes, focusing on sustainable budget policies.
• Structural reforms: Almost 100 reforms completed in six years, covering economy, administration, and social policies.
• Banking sector development: Full bank recapitalization has strengthened the financial foundations of the economy.

🔹 Key warning: Despite progress, challenges remain:

• Low productivity
• Demographic decline
• The need for more foreign investments

Digital Transformation: More Than Technology

Pierrakakis clarified that digitalization is not just technology, but a comprehensive overhaul of administration and citizen services.

Key points:

• Europe needs a new mindset: policies should start from serving citizens, not bureaucratic boxes.
• Greece has become a model, using smart 5G spectrum auctions worth €372 million to foster a technological ecosystem.
• On a European scale (e.g., €5 billion auctions), the European Investment Bank could leverage funds for long-term innovation and infrastructure development.

🔹 Important note: Digitalization is about streamlining administration, reducing bureaucracy, and providing better services for citizens, not just deploying tech tools.

Institutional Reforms and the European Dimension

Europe faces structural challenges and requires reforms that go beyond national interests:

• The European Savings and Investment Union is the largest project for the next decade.
• Without a cross-border culture, reforms remain paper-based, failing to produce European champions.

🔹 Example: Greece, through smart auctions and strategic funding, demonstrates how to develop both applications and infrastructure at a pan-European level.

Greece’s Smart Reforms

According to Pierrakakis:

• The country shifted from memoranda and instability to stable fiscal policies.
• Digital infrastructure reforms enable:
  • Less bureaucracy
  • Better citizen services
  • Economic growth
• Greece can serve as a European model, both economically and digitally, driving administrative innovation.

From 2015 Mistakes to Future Strategy

Pierrakakis sends a clear message:

1. Fiscal discipline is non-negotiable – The easy fixes of the past are over.
2. Digital transition is a growth tool, not a tech gimmick.
3. Europe needs initiatives that empower citizens, not bureaucracies.
4. Greece, through reforms and digital strategies, can become a key player in European innovation.

🔹Message to all:The future of Greece and Europe depends onrealism, structural reforms, and strategic digital investments.

Source: pagenews.gr