The Greek parliament is in the spotlight as debates on the 2025 budget take center stage.

The government has proposed a plan promising growth through tax cuts, wage hikes and investments aimed at addressing long-standing economic challenges.

However, for many ordinary Greeks, struggling with stagnant wages and skyrocketing living costs, these promises feel out of reach.

One such voice is that of Vasilis Tsiaprakas, a transit operator in Athens. For him, the daily grind is a stark reminder of the disconnect between policy and reality. 

Early each morning, he checks his bus, ensuring it is clean and safe for his passengers—a sense of security that, he admits, feels increasingly absent in his own life.

"Our job is difficult," Tsiaprakas tells CGTN. "I have to manage a lot of people for eight hours, with their problems and stress. Many who ride the bus struggle to make it through the month. This is the reality. And I share the same feeling as them. It's not a good feeling."

Budget targets growth

Even as the government debates measures aimed at boosting incomes and cutting taxes, many remain skeptical. 

The proposed budget, set for a final vote on Sunday, targets a 2.3 percent growth rate next year, relying on tourism, consumer spending, and investment. It also promises pension increases, tax cuts, and wage hikes to provide relief for struggling households. But critics argue these measures won't go far enough.

"Greece ranks third in business growth and profitability among large corporations, yet this wealth does not trickle down to small businesses or the average citizen," Kostas Tsoukalas, press representative for the opposition PASOK party, told CGTN. "We rank second in declining purchasing power and third in stagnant wage growth."

The gap between corporate profits and everyday struggles has driven thousands to protest, demanding real solutions. While the government touts its budget as a step forward, the question remains whether it will translate into meaningful change for people like Tsiaprakas.

"The proposed budget boosts spending by 3.7 percent of GDP, focusing on health, education, and defense," financial analyst Nikos Filipidis tells CGTN. "Rising tax revenues and political stability have improved Greece's economic climate, offering a rare sense of progress and stability."

Yet for many, these promises still feel distant, overshadowed by the reality of rising costs and stagnant wages. As parliament debates, their struggles serve as a powerful reminder that the true measure of a budget lies not in its projections but in its impact on everyday lives.