Prompt criticism of the opposition's proposals for free tickets to the means of transport was voiced by government spokesman Paul Marinakis, arguing that opposition parties focus on benefits without explaining how to create the financial space needed to finance them.

Speaking at the Open, Mr Marinakis used a characteristic analogy to describe, as he said, the stance of the government's political opponents.

"What the opposition does, the main opposition's two competitors at least based on polls, reminds me of those who talk about another family, where to go on vacation, what house to buy, without telling them if they can secure the money for all of this", reported features.

The government representative argued that the debate cannot only be limited to where resources will be directed, but must include the way in which new wealth will be produced.

"The opposition talks about where money will be given and how money will be given, without describing how conditions will be created so that the pie will grow further and all that money can be given“ he noted.

As he said, no one disagrees with measures that support citizens, but the difference lies in the way in which the necessary resources are secured.

"No one is opposed to anything that helps people. We all want more taxes to be reduced, we all want more to be given. Our difference with the other parties is that we describe and implement a policy that increases the pie, increases revenue in the state and at the end of the day the conditions for measures that help society are created," he stressed.

Responding specifically to the proposals for free tickets, Mr Marinakis contrasted tax reliefs introduced for young workers.

‘For every free ticket by Mr. Androuliakis, we zero the tax for all young people across the country up to 25 years old. It's money a young man can spare as he wants. We took the tax rate from 29% to zero and for a man up to 30 years old to 9%," he said.

Continuing his attack on the opposition, he argued that these measures were not a positive response from opposition parties when they were announced.

"These measures, zeroing the tax and tax cuts, were not applauded by the opposition. They did not welcome with the self-evident positive attitude a policy that concerns all the activities of a young man," he said.

The government representative also criticized PASOK, arguing that it is tabling successive proposals without explaining how they can be financed.

"PASOK says he is coming to rule the place. Next time he was talking about four days' work. It is worth seeing the first sentence of Mr. Androuliakis, when filters had not yet been introduced. Then they figured it out and picked it up. A month later came the second firework," he said.

Mr Marinakis made it clear that he does not question the opposition's right to table policy proposals, however, arguing that the substance of the dispute is in the order in which the measures are implemented.

"I am not saying that they have no right or that they cannot submit proposals. Every measure that helps people, in principle, finds me and the Prime Minister and the government in agreement. What's the difference between us? We are implementing a policy that first brings revenue to the state's funds, which the opposition denounces as increased tax revenues. And after bringing revenue to the state with our policy – and I hope we can bring even more – we give it back to the citizens. This is the right order," he concluded.