When the first substantial moves were made to create the e-kalathi in early 2023, many viewed the tool with suspicion. It was essentially a mechanism that would display daily prices for a large number of products from supermarkets, enabling consumers to compare and make the best choice for themselves.
The relevant authorities – the Ministry of Commerce and the Consumer Protection Service – were clear that the tool was not expected to reduce inflation or product prices, but would assist consumers in making the best possible choices.
The first clouds over the application’s creation appeared in May 2023 when Competition Protection Commission representatives, speaking in Parliament, raised concerns about potential competition distortions and possible cartel formation.
The annoyed Commerce Minister requested a meeting with the commission, whilst hours later spoke of a mutation in the regional political environment aimed at killing the e-kalathi.
“The reactions were not about the substance of the matter, but it is evident that those who pushed us to submit the bill to Parliament subsequently had reactions and reservations,” he added.
The minister continued, saying that transparency appeared to be troubling, emphasising that supermarkets make offers using limited products as loss leaders to attract consumers – something the e-kalathi would not permit.
A year and a half has passed since then, with considerable water flowing under the bridge before Parliament approved the bill (after delays of many months in the Commerce Committee), with Christmas 2024 set as the deadline for the e-kalathi’s launch. This ultimately did not happen, as neither side proved fully ready.
New processes followed between the Consumer Protection Service, the Greek contractor handling the technical aspects, supermarket technical departments that needed to establish mechanisms for daily price feeds, Ministry control mechanisms, and dozens of Ministry employees working daily to meet deadlines.
After numerous tests, problems with price uploads and delays in preparing mobile applications for Android and iOS, the situation reached just before Easter, when the e-kalathi was declared ready for consumers.
It was not ready then either. However, on May 14, the head of the Competition Division at the Consumer Protection Service, Aliki Iordanou, stated that all technical problems had been resolved, agreement reached with Apple for the iOS application, and the e-kalathi would be available to consumers the following week. Today, June 4, the e-kalathi remains unimplemented, and the reasons are numerous.
Reliable sources inform philenews that the e-kalathi file has been frozen for now. Not due to technical problems or bureaucratic procedures. It has been frozen following orders from above.
The market is buzzing, Mr President. The long-awaited application will not be implemented unless these orders change.
Our sources indicate these orders came from the Presidential Palace and have caused embarrassment and despair among those involved in the entire process – except for those who never viewed the e-kalathi favourably, as they detest price comparisons based on real and reliable data.
They detest genuine competition. These individuals smile with satisfaction.
Why orders were given to freeze the e-kalathi after so much work and expense, and what the application’s ultimate future will be, remains unknown.
What is clear is that some are contemplating – even today, with the law in force – consigning a tool that would help consumers shop more cheaply to the Greek calends. At consumers’ expense.
