The government offers aspirins instead of solutions to confront expensiveness

 

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. member Vakis Charalambous

18 September 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

 

The government offers aspirins instead of solutions to confront expensiveness and price hikes.

The extension of the zero VAT rate on essential goods seems in practice to be a meaningless “gift”. With figures that are now available, it is clear that average prices for many products have risen, eroding any benefits.

Increased interest rates are bringing households and businesses to their knees. Fuel prices have increased again. The cost of electricity is soaring and the state continues to collect many millions of extra Euros from the pockets of taxpayers due to expensiveness. It must give back and return part of these revenues to citizens.

The Nicos Christodoulides government must realise that this isn’t the time for endless discussions, but the time for decisions to be taken providing support for society.

In addition to the immediate restoration of the electricity and fuel measures – which they themselves had terminated – they government ruling forces must take additional measures such as:

• The reduction of VAT on electricity.
• The abolition of double taxation on fuel.
• A targeted subsidy for housing loans.