Former Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan has submitted a new legislative initiative that provides for a reduced VAT on fuels from 21% to 19% and a reduction in excise duty on standard diesel, but also the reinstatement of a state of crisis on the market, which would impose a re-cap on prices. The bill “on declaring a crisis situation on the crude oil and/or petroleum products market, temporarily reducing the excise duty on diesel, establishing a solidarity contribution, as well as establishing measures to protect the economy, the population and the functioning of the energy market” has been submitted to the Senate.
“Reduced VAT on fuels and reduced excise duty on standard diesel. Now! The solution is in the legislative initiative that I submitted to Parliament today. A solution fully supported by the Social Democratic Party”, former Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan announced on Wednesday evening. He accuses the “main right-wing party” of opposing a similar project submitted by the PSD, according to Digi24.
“Three weeks ago, I submitted a similar project. The fact that the main right-wing party opposed it caused the price of standard diesel to increase from July 1, from 8.80 lei/liter to 9.50 lei (on average). Let’s tell people the truth. High fuel prices do not help the industry, the economy or ordinary people. Instead, the Government, which taxes Romanians’ money more directly at the pump, “helps” them. Higher prices, higher revenues for the budget”, Ivan specified.
The former Minister of Energy hopes that the initiative will be supported by all parliamentarians in the extraordinary session of Parliament. “In the next extraordinary session of Parliament, I want all parliamentary colleagues to have in front of them the initiative that I submitted today: reduced VAT on fuels from 21% to 19%, reduced excise duty on standard diesel, reinstatement of the crisis situation on the market, capped commercial markup on the entire value chain and diesel export carried out only with the agreement of the relevant ministry. Do not use this initiative for political or ideological squabbles. I have great confidence that, in the absence of a party order, 99% of parliamentarians would vote for reducing the price of fuels in this form,” Ivan added. Parliament will have an extraordinary session from July 27 to 31, to adopt projects necessary for the PNRR.
