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Finance Minister Positive on Reopening Debt Relief and 'Rent for Installment' Scheme

Published March 19, 2026, 17:14
Finance Minister Positive on Reopening Debt Relief and 'Rent for Installment' Scheme

The Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, expressed a positive view on the reopening of the 'Rent for Installment' scheme for a short period, under the same terms, to avoid the need to appeal to the European Commission, a process that would be time-consuming and potentially rejected. The discussion took place during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, where proposals for borrowers and upcoming legislative regulations for foreclosures were also discussed. The Minister stressed the need to convince Credit Acquisition Companies, as the scheme is not a legal regulation, to mitigate social problems. He also emphasized the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance to maintain the financial stability of the country, given the difficult circumstances with wars and foot-and-mouth disease. The government's proposals focus on strengthening existing institutions that manage foreclosures, supplementing the framework submitted in 2023. Specifically, it is proposed to provide more time to the Financial Commissioner and the debtor to find a solution, starting the process from letter I instead of IA. Additionally, it is proposed to make the decisions of the Financial Commissioner binding for disputes up to €20,000, as 75% of cases concern amounts in this range, and to allow the debtor to consult a bankruptcy advisor to develop a sustainable repayment plan.