Greece unveils bill to help millions who owe tax and pension arrears

Greece unveiled draft legislation on Sunday intended to provide relief to millions of Greeks with tax and pension contribution arrears, offering discounts to amounts owed and stretching out payment plans by up to 120 monthly installments.

The country's leftist government, trailing the conservative opposition in opinion polls before national elections due in the autumn, is keen to show its social sensitivity to those facing difficulty paying their accumulated dues.

"Our plan helps those who are struggling to pay but cannot. We have been through the biggest crisis seen in a capitalist country; they don't have the liquidity (to pay)," Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters.

He said that about 4.2 million people have unsettled arrears with the tax office, state pension funds and municipalities, including about 80,000 eligible for retirement pensions but...

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