“50:50”. At the start of the week, a senior Turkish official estimated the likelihood that the green government partner could delay carbon pricing from the agreed July 1 to early October. Moments later, behind the scenes, senior Greens surprisingly revealed that it was more like 80:20 for the subsequent rise in fuel prices.
The ÖVP had previously argued that the climate bonus linked to the carbon tax would not be paid until October – so it would only be logical that price formation would only start at this time. The green side says that for postponement, the climate bonus and CO₂ pricing – which finances the bonus – should be decoupled. Does that mean no climate tax for three months longer, but also no climate bonus? No, the Greens don’t dare.
On Thursday, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler also officially confirmed his willingness to talk about the later start of pricing in the Ö1 interview. With this CO₂ surcharge, petrol and diesel would be about eight to nine cents per liter more expensive for motorists.
ARBÖ: “Procrastination is only a first step”
Motorists’ club ARBÖ listened with goodwill to the debate on a possible tax deferral on Thursday. “If the federal government actually postpones the CO₂ pricing of fuels from July 1 to October 1, 2022, it could only be the first step to relieve Austrian drivers,” said Dr. Peter Rezar, president of the federal organization ARBÖ. Inflation in Austria was higher than ever in May 2022. The main reason for this was the enormous increase in energy costs. Last year, diesel prices rose by 53 percent and super 46 percent.
In Germany, the government has already reacted to the high inflation: excise duties on fuel are reduced by 35.2 cents per liter for premium petrol and by 16.7 cents per liter for diesel. “In the current phase of massive inflation, the federal government should not only not introduce new taxes for drivers, but also lower taxes on fuel as soon as possible, as in Germany,” demanded Rezar.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
