Main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change spokesperson KostasTsoukalas spoke of government inaction regarding major interests in an interview with OPEN TV on Saturday.
"Everyone knows that the start of the fuel chain is the refineries. That’s where price increases are passed on. The government, clearly, does not want to touch the refineries. It makes no sense to set profit margins only for gas stations and wholesale distributors without addressing where the process begins. Unless they regulate intra-company and triangular transactions, there will be no result."
He also added that "we are the only country where VAT is applied on top of the Special Comsumption Tax. Today, retail fuel is 1.90 euros per liter, the fuel’s base value is 45 euros including margins, and we end up paying 105 euros. Taxes and duties 59 euros, VAT another 20 euros. So obviously, at least for the duration of this crisis, there should be intervention on the Special Consumption Tax and on VAT."