Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 12:50pm
Hi all,
I've signed a petition that´s currently running on Change.org, about the lack of action by the Spanish government in relation to the increasing cost of petrol and diesel - it's in Spanish, but here's a translation, along with a link to sign the petition, should you wish to do so:
"The price of gasoline has skyrocketed and families and small businesses are on the verge of ruin. Poland, France and Portugal have already taken measures, what are we waiting for in Spain? ENOUGH NOW!
"Let no one choose between heating or hot food: Less taxes on fuels!
"I can't turn on the boiler, so I use blankets to keep warm. I am almost 50 years old and I earn 400 euros a month. With that I cannot pay the cost of the diesel I need to heat my house. I don't have enough money to buy firewood, so I've been taking cold showers for months." This was told to me by Maria, a resident of Madrid who has been condemned to poverty by the rise in fuel prices. While prices continue to rise uncontrollably, the Government continues without providing solutions. Poland has eliminated VAT, France has lowered 15 cents per liter of gasoline, Portugal will adjust prices weekly, what are we waiting for in Spain?
"My husband and I are pensioners and, despite the fact that our pension increased by 2.5%, our quality of life has dropped due to the exorbitant prices of things as basic as fuel. To heat my house, I used to pay 0.77 a liter of diesel and now I pay 1.50 euros. We have gone from 231 euros to refill the deposit to 450... ALMOST DOUBLE! For many families, this means having to choose between eating, showering their children or heating the food... Since the rise in prices began, I have not stopped knowing about cases like this and we need to do something NOW to avoid it. Sign this petition to ask the Government of Spain to immediately reduce fuel taxes by lowering VAT from 21% to 10% and lowering taxes on hydrocarbons to guarantee the rights of the most vulnerable families and businesses.
"In Spain we pay almost half the tax on fuel. This is assuming THE RUIN of families, freelancers, hairdressers, bars, farmers and small business owners. Meanwhile, the Treasury is entering more than 250 million a month due to the rise in fuel prices. We cannot allow that while families and small businesses are impoverished, the Government fills its coffers in this way. If we don't stop this soon, the consequences will come and more and more businesses will have to close and precariousness will spread to more and more sectors. With the rise in prices, State collection will continue to rise, but citizens will continue to pay more and more for basic products.
"I understand that it is necessary to collect taxes to have the public services that we all enjoy and guarantee our rights, but with this increase, the Government is collecting more money than foreseen in the General State Budgets at the expense of essential goods for many families. Despite the fact that the Government has announced that it will take measures for companies and businesses, we need to ensure that it also takes measures for families and individuals who use diesel boilers and many will be forced to choose between heating food or showering with hot water.
"It is intolerable that the most humble families pay for this crisis. Sign and share this petition and ask the Government to lower fuel taxes to match the prices we had before the outbreak of the War in Ukraine at least! We cannot allow families most vulnerable continue to be impoverished!
"Sign this petition with a single click and ask the Government to lower fuel taxes for families and sectors most affected:
https://chng.it/nwfHcWMHJh
Kind regards,
Kim