Fixed prices to be reintroduced for books, says minister
A fixed price regime for books sold in Greece will be restored, Alternate Minister for Culture Nikos Xydakis said on Thursday.
Book prices were liberalized as part of market reforms in 2013 but Xydakis argues that “there was no fiscal or social benefit” to the measure.
“Only one or two bookshops in Athens profited,” the minister said while responding to a question in Parliament.
Xydakis did not say when the pricing system would change but pledged that it would happen “very soon.”
He also had an exchange on Twitter with former Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis about the subject after the latter encouraged the minister to visit some bookshops before introducing the measure.
“The selling off of stock is not a book market,” responded Xydakis. “Ask booksellers and publishers who have been destroyed.”
