Finance Minister Vincent van Bettieghem proposes another reduction in fuel surcharges | the interior

The federal government previously decided to cut indirect taxes on fuel, but that didn’t stop prices from hitting new highs in recent weeks. Moreover, the European embargo on Russian oil threatens to push prices higher.

He said in the House of Representatives on Thursday that Minister Van Bettieghem was aware of this. Deputy Prime Minister CD & V is considering an additional temporary reduction of production fees to the European minimum, as Germany has already decided. “As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the slopes that should be on the table.” This will have a significant impact on the state treasury, van Bettighem notes, “but the government must now support the people.” The minister also called for measures to be taken for the transportation sector, which is badly affected by high fuel prices.

Wouter Vermeersch (Vlaams Belang) doubts that the “pugnacious government” can come to an agreement on this, and PVDA MP and Chairman Raoul Hedebouw sees the Van Peteghem course as insufficient, and has argued in favor of eliminating excise duties completely and lowering prices. Ban at a certain level.

The minister had support from CD&V faction leader, Servais Verherstraeten, who also emphasized that the majority “must rise” to get and keep more people in the business. It seemed that “this is the strongest measure of purchasing power”, after which he received applause from the opposition party N-VA.