2019 budget aims to change narrative

The government submitted Greece's 2019 budget - the first in the post bailout era - to Parliament on Wednesday, saying it seeks to redress injustices against weaker social strata.

Moreover, Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Houliarakis told lawmakers that it does not include legislated pension cuts planned for January.

"This is the first budget since 2008 which includes a very clear fiscal expansion of about 0.5 percent (910 million euros) of gross domestic output... a first crucial step in changing the fiscal policy mix," Houliarakis said.

The government's purported emphasis on poorer sections of society and its narrative of better days to come is seen as part of its bid to set the agenda of the public debate ahead of national elections next year.

To this end, government sources said on Wednesday that the primary budget surplus may overshoot...