Merkel, who played a pivotal role from 2011 when Greece entered its first bailout program until her retirement in 2021, shared critical moments and decisions in a packed hall at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
The early repayment will be partially funded by the government’s cash reserves, which, according to the Public Debt Management Agency, stood at 40.1 billion euros at the end of the first quarter of 2025.
At the same time, although S&P maintained a “ stable” outlook for the Greek economy in its April 18 update - while upgrading Greece’s credit rating to BBB/A2 - it left a “ window” open on Wednesday for a possible further upgrade, citing expectations for improvements in external imbalances.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece’s minimum wage will increase to 880 euros starting on April 1, 2025.
The new gross monthly minimum wage is expected to rise by 5% to 6%, reaching approximately €880, in a country where almost half of employees make less than €1,000 per month.
“Many of our fellow citizens will gather in squares across the country to honor the memory of the victims. They will send a clear message that the truth must prevail and the guilty must be held accountable. They will demand safe public transportation from the state,” Mitsotakis told his cabinet on Wednesday, highlighting the government’s responsibility to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to free expression.
