Prepare for the worst

By Kostas Stupas

1) Prepare for the worst with Turkey

What happened during Erdogan’s recent visit to Germany may be a precursor to what is to come in Greece.

As part of his participation in the Greece-Turkey High Cooperation Council, the Turkish president is expected to lead a multi-member delegation in Athens on December 7, where he will meet Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The last visit of a Turkish president to Greece took place six years ago in 2017.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not mince his words in Germany, despite the latter being a traditional ally and ally, as he pleaded for the acquisition of Eurofighter jets, as Congress canceled the purchase of F-35s and blocked the upgrade of F-16s. of its neighbors.

Although Germany classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization and recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense, Erdogan has not hesitated to express strong support for the terrorist organization’s positions.

His choice of words during a joint interview with Chancellor Scholes was characterized by unprecedented German press.

“We have no debt to Israel. Those who owe cannot express themselves freely. We did not bear the burden of the Holocaust (…) and in this regard, we owe nothing to anyone,” the Turkish president said.

“Are we going to be silent about everything that is happening in Gaza? How are we going to deal with the weight of history if we are silent?” He said, speaking of the “psychology of guilt”, this was not the “correct approach”.

In simple terms, the Turkish president characterized Germany’s position on Israel’s right to self-defense as a result of guilt for the Holocaust, and not as a position arising from international law and Germany’s interests as a Western democracy.

Turkey has asked Germany for 40 Euro fighter jets in an attempt to send a message to the US about its arms embargo.

He knows that Germany is not going to provide advanced European fighter jets to Erdogan’s Turkey, so he is not following all the rules of diplomatic language.

Erdogan says he can request the same fighter from other European countries participating in co-production, but this is not easy either.

The German parliament must also agree before Italy or the UK can accept it. To pursue sales.

Fortunately, all roads to the modernization of the Turkish Air Force lead to Russia or Pakistan and lead to systems that are incompatible with other defense systems of neighboring countries.

However, Erdogan’s approach is to both the United States and Germany, and his traditional support for the European Union. is a sign of his intention. Many European officials, aware of the Turkish economy’s economic dependence on Europe, believe the aggressive rhetoric is a bargaining ploy.

They don’t realize that Erdogan should not have won the last election based on the state of the Turkish economy. Nevertheless, he won them beyond any reasonable prediction…

This is because people do not always make decisions based on self-interest and common sense, but based on inner psychological needs, sometimes with complex and existential motivations.

If they were so “sung” in Germany, we must prepare for the worst in Athens. However, with recent reports about Thessaloniki and the minority, he has prejudged us.

2) Again in the same project audience

As an economist, tax technician and tourism entrepreneur for 25 years I would like to give a simple note about the tax system in Greece.

Every government I have known in the last 40 years has started their program with a “crackdown on tax evasion”. Even though I was hoping to do something better, the same thing is happening right now.

What I expect is to first fundamentally change the tax system, tax rates and practices, and then move on to the next step, a firm crackdown on tax evasion.

The taxation system has been simplified. How is this going to happen; First you have to tear out the old and write a new one. Clear, consistent taxation, I would like a maximum flat tax of 15% and a maximum of 10% VAT or follow the example of other countries. Small percentage of turnover or exemption from VAT for small businesses. The above-mentioned taxation will overcome the embarrassment and reluctance of not issuing receipts, coupled with complete electronic invoicing of all revenues, will free the state from endless efforts to “crack” tax evasion. This way every entrepreneur will create a healthy tax profile that you can be sure you all love, he will keep money in the banks that he can use in investments, which has manifold benefits for the economy.

Banks create a healthy pool of deposits, which they channel into the economy in the form of loans, and from there other multiplier benefits! Now instead governments spend a bundle of money and manpower and if there was no need (need to survive) (tax evasion) would not have been created.

Governments need to understand that entrepreneurs need to create a healthy business environment to free themselves from the pressure of tax and procedural matters and to channelize their energies into business.

with price

NK

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