Tsoukalas: Government has 'failed spectacularly' in controlling high prices

The Greek government is "the most failed in Europe" in terms of controlling inflation and the high cost of living, the spokesperson for main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change, Kostas Tsoukalas, said on Monday, in statements to MEGA television.

He called for urgent measures with regard to oil and energy, noting that the military conflict in the Middle East will "completely disrupt the supply of oil and natural gas" given that Iran has a strong footprint in oil, while he referred to dangers of "stagflation" with respect to natural gas.

"Therefore," he added, "there must be frontloaded policies for the support of society, businesses and households because we will have a further erosion of purchasing power and disruption of supply and, quite possible, we will essentially have a reduction of supply."

Tsoukalas noted that the government's assurances of action to support households offered little comfort, asserting that its past efforts in this direction "have failed spectacularly" and that it was the "most failed government in Europe" with respect to controlling high prices.

Talking about PASOK's own proposals, he said the issue of subsidies must be examined immediately, as well as the special consumption tax for fuels.

He also stressed the need for Europe to support the EU countries that were more economically vulnerable and whose governments had a poor track record in tackling the high cost of living.