CSV MPs were particularly critical about the government’s lack of action to combat the rising energy prices. A full diesel tank increased from €50 to €75 in little over a year while the price of heavy fuel even doubled. Co-fraction leader Gilles Roth stressed that inflation has long started affecting the middle class, which is why tax rates require adjustment. He concluded that the time to act is now.
CSV put forward four concrete proposals: limit the maximum price of heavy fuel, adjust the kilometre allowance, increase kilometre aids, and increase the classification for people who receive “financial support for expensive living costs” by 20%.
In response, Minister for Energy Claude Turmes underlined that the government is already acting and will continue to do so. Over the coming weeks, officials will work out their own proposal to be presented to the Chamber of Deputies.
In her first Chamber appearance, Minister of Finance Yuriko Backes emphasised that the government continuously works on counteracting inflation in an anticipatory manner. She enlisted tax reliefs, free school lunches, as well as free child care as respective measures.
The index, a 2.5% increase in revenue or pension, is often forgotten, Minister Backes further noted. The most recent indexation, a concrete support for people’s spending power, was only made in October last year, she concluded.
Even though every party put forward a list of proposals to counteract the problem, the government failed to announce any concrete measures, much to the disappointment of CSV’s MP Roth. After the Chamber debate, he conveyed that he expected more from the coalition and concluded that they only pat themselves on the back while leaving people to fight on their own.
