Tsipras Calls for €1.40 Heating Oil Cap and Four Tax Measures in Greece

Alexis Tsipras, leader of the Ελληνική Αριστερή Συμπαράταξη, criticised the government's commitment to a €1.75 per litre heating-oil price, calling it 50 % above last October’s level. He set a new ceiling of €1.40 per litre for heating oil and €1.80 for motor fuel. To achieve this, Tsipras proposed four policy levers: a profit-margin ceiling for refineries, a special tax on refinery earnings that exceed normal levels, a reduction of the special consumption tax to the lowest rate permitted by the European Union, and a cut of fuel VAT to 13 %, similar to Spain’s approach. He challenged the government to select any of these measures or a mix to force a sharper price decline, accusing it of lacking the courage to confront fuel cartels.