Now! Immediately! Get rid of the VAT on daily purchases!

2023-05-21 10:00:19

MFG-Aigner: “This government is increasingly becoming the enemy of its own people”

If the government feels any shred of decency, charity and responsibility left in its body, it will suspend VAT on all food immediately and indefinitely.

Parliamentary Deputy Joachim Aigner, MFG-Austria Federal Party Chairman

“As early as tomorrow, the barely affordable prices and the highest inflation of all Western European countries could be over if the government wants it, but they don’t want it,” says LAbg Joachim Aigner, MFG-Austria federal party chairman: “VAT on food is just as temporarily suspended as the mineral oil tax, to name just a few reliefs that can be made immediately.” In reality, there is not a single reason not to implement these measures, which the MFG has already demanded several times, IMMEDIATELY, it is failing solely because of the will of the black-green government , whereby also the oö. Parliament has so far shown no interest in slowing down inflation. “It’s already 5 past 12, this government is increasingly becoming the enemy of its own people,” says Aigner, harshly but honestly. With the help of a test purchase, MFG shows how much savings potential would be possible just with an everyday purchase through the temporary cancellation of VAT.

Ordinary shopping in a branch of the Hofer grocery chain: sausage, cheese, eggs, milk, a bottle of wine, organic potatoes, cola, orange juice, shampoo and a few more everyday items. The bill is a whopping 53 euros. “If you were to refund the 10 or 20 percent added value at the checkout, as requested by MFG, this would have resulted in savings of 7.22 euros for this test purchase. “That would be just one of many measures that would be felt immediately. Once again, it only fails because of the former ‘People’s’ Party and its green vicarious agents. They just don’t want to,” says MFG Federal Party Chairman Joachim Aigner. “What is even worse about the high prices is that many customers are forced to resort to the cheapest, inferior discount goods, which often come from far away abroad. That is neither sustainable nor healthy,” Aigner receives support from MFG health spokeswoman Dagmar Häusler.

„If the government feels any shred of decency, charity and responsibility left in its body, it will suspend VAT on all food immediately and indefinitely.“ – Labor Dept. Joachim Aigner, MFG-Austria Federal Party Chairman

It is indeed a feat how Austria manages to establish itself as the sole inflation champion in Europe: the rate of inflation was 9.8 percent in April 2023 – and thus not only 0.8 percent above the previous month, but also well above the EU average (7.0 percent). Even Germany, which is struggling with similarly high prices, had a far lower inflation rate than Austria at 7.2 percent.

MFG: VAT-Aus was the first to demand it in 2022

As early as 2022 – when the crazy price spiral really picked up speed – MFG submitted the application that the oö. State government should use to suspend VAT on food until the end of 2023. The mineral oil tax was also intended to be halved for a limited period of time as effective emergency aid. These measures would have had an immediate effect on the fuel bill and at the supermarket checkout, without any pointless delays.

And no end in sight

But it got even worse: In order to further fuel inflation without any conscience, Black-Green also introduced a CO2 tax in October 2022. Joachim Aigner: “To describe this measure as stupid is an understatement.” Now the Green Minister Gewessler even wants to double this completely crazy CO2 tax. Aigner: “You can no longer put this madness into words.”

It has been predicted – once again by “experts” – for many months that inflation has now peaked. If one observes the development of international producer prices, it can be seen that the current inflation does not necessarily have to do with production costs per se. Rather, it is the unspeakable interest rate hikes by the ECB, which is probably dependent on the US, which are having the effect of increasing costs. And ultimately, high energy prices, largely driven by sanctions, are driving up people’s cost of living. Understandably, this will again lead to high wage demands in the coming wage negotiations. These flow directly into the cost of production and ensure a further high in inflation. There will probably be no real trend reversal until autumn 2024 at the earliest, when this government is voted out and new forces ensure a popular, modern way of governing. Aigner: “With us, the VAT as well as the mineral oil tax would be suspended with immediate effect and the CO2 tax would be canceled without replacement on the first day.”