The President must withdraw the referrals of the bills passed calling for a reduction of taxes

 

Statement by AKEL Political Bureau member & Head of the Econom8ic Policy Charis Polycarpou

5 September 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

As long as the Anastasiades government and the ruling DISY party are congratulating each other on the performance of the Cyprus economy, so does the pressure on society grow, which remains at the mercy of price hikes and increases in the price of energy and essential goods.

In the European Union measures are being discussed for the imposition of caps, a reduction of VAT and for taxes to be applied on the excess profits of companies in the energy sector, but in Cyprus it is the government that is the first to dismiss and devalue such measures. It is the government that is the first to stand against society.

In combination with the increased state revenues collected from the price hikes it is clear that none of the government’s excuses against AKEL’s legislative proposals have any real substance whatsoever. To this day, the President’s referrals for a reduction in VAT on electricity and for the abolition of the double taxation on fuel, which were passed by the Parliament by all the parliamentary parties – with the exception of the ruling DISY party – are still pending before the Supreme Court.

So no more empty talk and excuses. We call on the government to immediately withdraw the government referrals before the Supreme Court. Society cannot be saddled with the government’s dogmatism and insensitivity in confronting price hikes.