The president of the Hellenic Left Alliance, Alexis Tsipras, submitted specific proposals for cheaper fuels (1.4 euros per liter for heating oil and 1.8 for diesel fuel) in a recorded statement posted on his social media accounts.
At the same time, the former prime minister accuses Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of lying in claiming that the EU does not give him the flexibility to reduce the excise tax, as he said. In fact, Al. Tsipras points to four different tools for a drastic reduction of prices at the pump, with the political conclusion that “the country needs a government that will confront the cartels and defend the interests of society”.
The full recorded statement by Al. Tsipras is as follows:
“The prime minister, last week, committed to a price for heating oil at 1.75 euros per liter. Except that this price is already 50% more expensive than last October’s. At the same time he told us that the EU does not give him the flexibility to reduce the excise tax. He lied.
The government has 4 different tools at its disposal for a more drastic reduction of prices at the pump.
- Imposition of a cap on profit margins at refineries as well, not only at gas stations.
- Extraordinary taxation of the excess profits of refineries, which in the past six months exceeded 1.5 billion.
- Reduction of the excise tax by half, that is, to the minimum permissible limit provided for by the EU.
- Reduction of VAT on fuels to 13%, as Spain did.
Let him choose which of all these tools, or which combination of them, he will impose”, the president of ELAS calls on the prime minister, and concludes:
“In any case, the price of heating oil is not justified in exceeding 1.4 euros per liter. And diesel fuel 1.8 euros per liter. What is missing? A government that will have the courage to confront the cartels and the will to defend the interests of society”.