Greek Deputy PM Announces Dual Measures on Heating Oil and Subsidies Amid Oil Price Worries

Deputy Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogiorgis told the TV channel OPEN that the government is preparing a “double intervention” to mitigate the impact of the Persian Gulf crisis on oil prices and household purchasing power. The first element will set a ceiling for heating oil below the price reached in April of the previous year, while the second will raise the heating allowance, especially for families living in isolated or mountainous regions.

He indicated that technical discussions with refineries are near completion and that the full package of measures will be presented in the next few days. Kontogiorgis dismissed opposition criticism of the Special Consumption Tax on fuels, arguing that any reduction depends on flexibility in EU spending rules rather than a simple commission permit. He defended the government’s economic record against accusations by former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, citing recent European Commission data on average earnings. He also warned that the judiciary will address cases involving extremist figures such as Ilias Kasidiaris and the Golden Dawn party ahead of upcoming elections.