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Greece's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament Giannis Loverdos has triggered backlash after saying he lives only on his parliamentary salary, which amounts to around €7,000 (nearly $8,200) per month.
Speaking on MEGA’s morning show on Monday, Loverdos said he feels the pain of citizens struggling with soaring prices.
“I understand the difficulties of the people,” he said. “I live only from my income, that is, the parliamentary compensation.”
The statement was widely described as provocative and sparked criticism across the political spectrum.
The parliamentary salary is far higher than what most Greek citizens earn. The minimum gross monthly wage in Greece will rise to €880 on April 1.
This means MPs earn nearly 10 times more than minimum-wage workers, not including bonuses and benefits.
Greek MPs also receive a range of additional benefits that raise their total monthly income.
Parliament covers:
When these benefits are counted, the monthly income can exceed €20,000.
The comment went viral and sparked thousands of reactions online.
Some of the comments read:
The backlash comes as Greeks face one of the most severe cost-of-living and housing crises in years.
Market groups say that measures announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF 2025) offer limited relief.
Citizens say they continue to feel pressure from inflation and rent increases, while wages remain stagnant.
Loverdos’ statement has now become a symbol of the growing divide between politicians and citizens. The debate over wages, pensions, and living costs is expected to intensify as the government prepares new policies ahead of the winter.
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