Mitsotakis: Post-pandemic,Greece's economic recovery will be as fast as that coming after a real war

In an extensive interview to Alpha TV, Mitsotakis said "the vaccine is absolutely safe, that has been now proven" and said that the issue of obligatory vaccinations for medical and health personnel would be resolved in the fall. He asserted however that guidelines would be clear that "nobody may fire an employee" over some staff's refusal to be inoculated.

Speaking about the Greek economy, he said that he expects a strong, robust recovery following the end of the coronavirus pandemic. "It will feel like the end of a war," he asserted. "Just as we had quick recovery after the end of a war, the same will happen now as well, since the scars, the wounds - especially in the production network - will not be as deep as we think," Mitsotakis underlined.

Referring to the new tax and insurance regulations announced yesterday to help the fallout from the pandemic, the prime minister said they would be of a permanent nature. The government's goals are to protect labor, and to reduce social inequalities and the intergenerational gap in Greece.

The first 4 billion euros allocated to Greece from the EU's Recovery Fund are expected within 2021, he added, while public debt he said is viable, otherwise "nobody would want to lend" to Greece.

As to Greek-Turkish relations, following the recent visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias to Turkey, Mitsotakis asserted that the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will take place, "but I am not in a position to say when." He added, "The meeting must happen because we must keep talking. I don't believe this meeting will be particularly far in the future." He said he is seeking a 'modus vivendi' with Turkey and that differences between the two countries have become EU-Turkey differences, while both disagreements and agreements are crystal clear now.