The Government is trying to take measures after the announcement of the distributors’ strike by partially modifying the decree approved three days ago. The meeting with the representatives of the category is scheduled for today
January 13, 2023
The announcement of distributors’ strike of organized fuels for 25 and 26 January against the decree-law approved on Tuesday with the aim of limiting speculation on prices and the pressures received inside and outside the majority led the government to modify that very decree and to introduce new measures. The note released by the Council of Ministers reads that “in the presence of a possible increase in the price of crude oil and therefore of the relative increase in VAT in a reference four-month period, the higher revenue collected in terms of tax by the State can be used to finance reductions in the final price at the pump”. In practice, the higher revenues deriving from VAT on petrol will be invested to lower excise duties on fuel. However, the price of the fuel raw material has been declining since June and if this descent continues, the cut in excise duties will not be triggered as VAT is a percentage of the value of the product.
The government’s return to the newly approved decree was due to the controversies and protests of trade associations which openly criticize the government for pointing the finger only at the possible speculation of distributors without intervening on excise duties, considered the main factor in the increase in prices, because it would have cost too much. The changes made to the decree on Thursday, although they probably won’t have concrete effects if the price of crude oil continues to fall, are certainly a sign of easing towards the category, a way to open dialogue. Yesterday evening in an interview with Tg1 Meloni added that the government will meet “the category to reiterate that there is no will to pass the buck”, indeed I reiterate that most of the petrol stations are behaving with great responsibility and perhaps precisely for their protection it is necessary to identify those who did not have the same responsibility”. In an interview given to Tg5, however, President Meloni anticipated a provision not present in the note from the Council of Ministers: “In the latest decree there is a rule that reimburses commuters for the sum they spend on public transport passes. We are trying to help those in the greatest difficulty rather than giving aid to everyone without distinction”.
