«The fuel measures are rightly not horizontal, they have a social dimension and target low and middle incomes. They cover 3.1 million vehicle owners out of a total of 3.5 million. This was stated by Finance Minister Christos Staikouras (speaking on ERT1), regarding the requests for either a reduction in the VAT rate or a shift to a lower rate.
According to the minister, a reduction of 0.20 euros in the VAT rate has a cost of 1.5 billion euros. «So, we will not do any other support measure or burden the citizens,’ he added. He also said that »the tax revenues from fuel are increased (much increased those from VAT and slightly reduced from VAT). The state takes it, adds the amount from the tax on energy companies« excess profits and returns it to the citizens.».
At the same time, addressing a representative of farmers from Farsala, Mr. Staikouras said that tax rates and VAT on fertilizers have already been reduced, help has been given to farmers and the tax on diesel fuel will be refunded in August. And he urged farmers «to make bigger and healthier schemes, motivated by the 50% reduction in lifetime income tax.’.
On inflation, the minister said that «the difficulties summarized in the word “accuracy” will cover the whole of 2022, will continue with lower intensity in 2023 and will end at the end of next year». He also said that «the government is not a government of benefits, it is a government of reducing taxes and contributions and helping the citizen when he needs it.».
Asked about the possibility of early elections, he replied that «we have a four-year horizon, we operate in the economy with a four-year horizon. But a long election period is detrimental to the economy.».
