Spanish president Pedro Sanchez (PSOE) announced a range of tax cuts on Friday made official by a BOE (Boletin Oficial del Estado).
These were due to come into force yesterday, Saturday.
Pedro Sanchez [El Mundo]
This action was taken to mitigate the effects of the War in Iran and surrounding Gulf States on the price of oil, petrol, diesel and heating oil. In all Sanchez announced 80 measures.
Duty on petrol and all types of oil has been axed from 21 per cent to 10 per cent. Tax on rents has been reduced to just 2 per cent and certain food items have had their prices frozen.
First "out of the blocks"
This move by Spain, the first country in Europe to act to offset rising prices caused by the war in the Middle East, has not been straightforward. Sumar, a left-of-centre party and a key coalition partner of PSOE, has not supported the government. Their leader, Yolanda Diaz, says the government have not gone far enough.
Yolanda Diaz of SUMAR [Articulo 14]
Nevertheless, petrol stations in Ronda, where I live, are now displaying the "discounted" price. The cheapest for sin plomo 95 is "La Tortuga" at 159.9 a litre compared to 175.9 on Friday. Other filling stations are charging one cent more while the big companies like Moeve (formerly CEPSA) are quite a bit dearer.
[Photo: Komparing]
Last Word
Well done, Pedro, for displaying a sense of "duty". You are standing up to Donald Trump and not forgetting your people who are struggling financially at home here in Spain.
© Paul Whitelock
Pictures:
Articulo 14, El Mundo, Komparing
Thanks:
AS, El Periodico, RTVE, Wikipedia
Tags:
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