• ENERGY The electricity continues to escalate but the Government refuses to lower the VAT on one of the most expensive bills in Europe

The Ministry of Finance and its person in charge, María Jesús Montero, are notably upset with the Popular Party, a formation that they accuse of engaging in

"

fake news

" and "misrepresenting"

the minister's words in relation to the VAT that is applied to electricity.

The anger has been unleashed by the fact that the popular MEPs have sent a question to the European Commission to find out if there really is "

any legal impediment that does not allow Spain to lower the VAT on electricity,

as assured by the Government Spokesperson. , María Jesús Montero ".

But "the reality", according to the Ministry, is that "the Minister of Finance and Government spokesperson,

María Jesús Montero, has never made a statement in this regard

or affirmed that community regulations prevent lowering the VAT on electricity."

What Montero did in the press conference after the Council of Ministers last Wednesday, continues the Ministry, is "a general reflection and recalled that the European Commission usually points out in its reports that

Spain has a relatively low collection of VAT for the intensive use of the reduced and super-reduced rate

".

"

At no time did Montero speak of prohibitions or sanctions

and he limited himself to recalling a recurring opinion of the European Commission when he analyzes the Spanish economy and its tax system," adds the Treasury.

Hide in Brussels ... depending on the case

And indeed, Montero did not say at any time that there was a legal impediment, but he did hide himself in Brussels so as not to apply that possible 21% VAT reduction that Spain applies to electricity.

Other countries do apply a lower rate to electricity and, in any case, there are other aspects in which the Treasury or the Government as a whole ignore the European recommendations.

For example:

pensions or debt containment

, to name just a few cases.

In addition, in the government's decision not to lower VAT on one of the most expensive invoices in Europe, there is a clear collection component, since it would have a notable impact on what the State receives from that tax.

And to all this must be added the episode of VAT on masks, whose reduction according to Montero was prohibited by Brussels despite the fact that in other countries it was already being applied.

Finally, the Treasury decreed a reduction of this figure, a decision that other neighboring countries had taken months before.

One of them was

Portugal, which just last year decided to significantly lower VAT on electricity

.

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