“We cannot reduce the Value Added Tax in pasta, because the rich eat more than the poor.” The statements by New Democracy MP Constantinos Kyranakis about the government’s refusal to reduce the VAT triggered an outrage and a lot of taunt on social media on Thursday.
“The rich and the poor, I don’t like these words but let’s use them for the economy of the discussion, they have a difference in consumption. So what’s going on here? They will pay the same tax on spaghetti, but a rich person who has more money will consume more. So more consumption, more packages of spaghetti, so to speak, yields more VAT to the public coffers from which the government chooses to support the weak and the middle class,” the MP said in an interview with BlueSky TV.
Prompt was the comment by main opposiiton party, left-wing SYRIZA that said in a statement “Kyranakis confirms that when neoliberalism meets ridiculousness, the Mitsotakis government makes its appearance.”
SYRIZA recalled a more or less similar comment by the conservative government that refused to reduce the V.A.T. in fuel amid energy crisis arguing that “the rich would benefit.”
“What is left to say is that Greece has the most expensive electricity in Europe in order to take more money from those with villas so that the government can make social policy,” SYRIZA added.
PS I always thought the rich each more meat, fish, and more protein in general than the poor who eat μακαρόνια (pasta) with oil and if lucky with cheese & sauce on paydays. I was wrong. Times have changed.
A statement from a politician protecting his rich friends. Of course he offers no real facts because he is a politician!
How dare the poor not eat more?!
Bloody tax evaders!
/sarc
VAT is a tax for the poor, the less you earn the bigger a percentage of your income goes to VAT. Reducing VAT would have very little impact on wealthy people but a huge impact on those scraping by.
This government is a lap poodle of Brussels and represents their interests and the few clients they have at the top of the ‘food chain’. Don’t EVER expect this to change whomever you vote for.