France to cut petrol tax
France is to cut tax on petrol to ease the pain of rising prices on households.
Prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the government's "unilateral" reduction, would be small and temporary, but gave no further details.
The announcement during a TV interview came as president Francois Hollande was to host his first cabinet meeting after the traditional August holiday in France.
Like many other European countries, the French government is facing concerns about a sluggish economy and debt-ridden state finances.
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A Caruana
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:57
And when the election comes Malta will do the same. Tal Biki.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Aug 22nd 2012, 18:23
In reality when prices of oil go up, the government can reduce the tax burden since higher prices add money income to the government. Gonzipn is getting more money from tax on petrol but he is not spending them wisely
Alfred Grech
Aug 22nd 2012, 16:42
Tonio Fenech, did you read this news?
C Cassar
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:48
Frnace doesn't have a problem with over use and density of vahicles. Malta does have this problem. The Maltese goverment needs to significantly raise fuel duty as a deterrent to unecessary vehicle usage.
France also has a much higher rate of income tax, so all the Maltese looking at this piece of news in isloation should consider this. Drop the fuel price and raise income tax levels.
Peter Murray
Aug 22nd 2012, 16:13
What a load of claptrap sir.Raising fuel duties has nothing whatsoever to do with any deterrent" for unnecessary vehicle usage"-as how is this determined and established and by whom?This is purely a revenue -generating exercise and there are a million differences between taxation in France and Malta so why make this observation as any decrease in taxation is most welcome -but can we expect such from our government?
C Cassar
Aug 22nd 2012, 16:47
Of course there is a direct comparison with France but all factors have to be taken into account which the Maltese (and most Brits) fail to see. They all want the advantages of these countries such as a directive to lower fuel tax duty but ignore the facts that taxation is much higher in countries such as France when compared to Malta. Sure, you get additional services for those taxes but the Maltese wouldn't be prepared to pay for those services out of their own pockets via tax. So, please do some elementary research before posting unqualified comments.
B Ellul
Aug 22nd 2012, 14:55
NP! JM will surely promise to remove it as well
John Pace
Aug 22nd 2012, 14:45
Can we vote for this guy?
John Borg
Aug 22nd 2012, 13:49
Well this is only something we can dream about!
Thanks TOM for putting salt in our wounds!!!
Victor Calleja
Aug 22nd 2012, 13:33
The announcement during a TV interview came as president Francois Hollande was to host his first cabinet meeting after the traditional August holiday in France.
Our happy go lucky cabinet needs another month before the first cabinet meeting after the long summer holidays.
Shame and shame.
A.M. Galea
Aug 22nd 2012, 13:26
Come on Mr.Prime Minister , you have been following or copying foreign governments on many occasions and on various issues , could you follow the French Government on this one ?
paul camilleri
Aug 22nd 2012, 13:17
ah i wonder if our goverment will follow suit, so far our Goverment has followed everything else that EU countries have done before??
Please choose the reason of your report below: