The Government spokesperson and Minister for Territorial Policy, Elizabeth Rodriguezhas announced that the tax cut will be applied for now only to the price of energy, although the Executive is studying how the economic consequences derived from inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have affected all sectors. Rodriguez has sold as an act of generosity from the government the tax reductions already implemented: “It is a lot of money that is not coming in so that families can take care of electricity bills,” said the spokeswoman.
Rodríguez has indicated this Monday that the Government of Pedro Sanchez It is going to analyze if it applies the tax reduction only to the energy field or if it decides to extend the measure to “all the affected sectors”.
“What this Government does want is for the measures to be adopted at a European level,” emphasized the government spokesperson, who praised Sánchez’s role both at the European Union level and at the national level to “lead change of regulations”.
Rodríguez recalled that the price of electricity began to rise “as a result of the cost of energy in wholesale markets”, a rise that the Government has defended in an interview in RNE, «reacted immediately by adopting measures in the tax area».
Some measures, he added, extended until the month of June and that for the state coffers they suppose “between one thousand and twelve thousand million euros”. “That is to say, a lot of money that is not coming in so that families can take care of electricity bills,” said the spokeswoman, for whom this cannot be the only solution.
The spokeswoman stated that the President of the Government addressed the Spanish in Congress “very sincerely” to convey the consequences that the war in Ukraine could bring. “He clearly said that having rejected Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and this Vladimir Putin war was going to have economic consequences in Spain as in the rest of Europe, but that not having done anything would have been much more burdensome and costly for everyone and, therefore, we must not hide that we are in a moment of difficulty».
Asked about the decision to separate the price of gas from that of electricity, the minister spokesperson pointed out that it is an issue that cannot be neglected and must be done in accordance with European regulations. In this sense, Rodríguez has urged that Europe lead centralized purchases, a faster pace in the deployment of renewable energies or improve the gas connections that Spain now has.
“Now, in the face of the energy emergency, as a consequence of Russia’s actions and the dependence that some European markets have on this country, this position of the president becomes more relevant,” the spokesperson explained to highlight Sánchez’s tour with European leaders to address this issue.
Regarding the sectoral strike called by part of the road transport sector, Rodríguez has assured that, “of course”, the supply is guaranteed, before recalling that at the end of 2021 it was reached, with “those who mostly represent” the carriers”, an agreement that included “important decisions” such as the price of fuel being reflected in costs.
“The dialogue with the majority agents that represent the sector that is still open by the Ministry of Transport,” he said. Regarding the protests called by Vox in the face of high energy prices, Rodríguez has criticized that “demagoguery and populism” take advantage of and “live better” moments of crisis like the current one.
