The Greek Parliament has approved a 2025 budget that will almost double defence spending.
The state budget for the fiscal year 2025 was approved with 159 votes out of 299, while a larger majority approved defence spending.
Former Prime Minister and New Democracy leader, who was recently barred from the ruling party, was absent, along with former ND MP Marios Salmas.
Four MPs voted in favour of the budget, in addition to New Democracy’s 155 (out of a total of 300): former ND MP and Minister Lefteris Avgenakis and three MPs who defected from far-right The Spartans.
Due to increased equipment deliveries, the Ministry of Defence’s spending will increase from 3.6 billion euros to 6.1 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in 2025.
“Compared to 2019, health spending will increase by 74 per cent by 2025, while defence spending will increase by 73 per cent, underscoring the government’s priorities,” Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said in a statement when presenting the budget to the Parliament in late November.
The main opposition parties, PASOK and SYRIZA, as well as the Hellenic Solution party, had announced ahead of the vote that they would approve the increase in defence spending.
Greece Doubles Defence Budget in 2025
