ALDE's Tariceanu on energy tax: To remain in Ordinance but 'balanced formula' has to be found

The energy tax will remain in Ordinance 114/2018, but a "balanced formula" has to be found, so that consumer costs related to the increase in gas and oil prices "do not reflect unfavorably and lower purchasing power," Chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said on Wednesday after the party's Political Bureau meeting. 

"I have discussed the provisions of the ordinance with the Minister of Energy and my other colleagues - Toma Petcu, Varujan Vosganian and Andrei Gerea, who have managed these areas, and the things that seem indispensable to me, such as the capping of the gas price for household consumers, which I am telling you will remain in the ordinance, will not change, but there are things that we are more than willing to analyze whether there are unfavorable collateral effects in the economy, to make some adjustments," Tariceanu said. 

As far as the possibility of canceling this tax is concerned, the ALDE leader has given a negative answer, mentioning that its impact must be better seen, so that the higher cost of energy is not reflected in the budget of each household. 

"There are some companies that have made very high profits, for which I am glad because they can invest more, create jobs, but we have to try to find a balanced formula in such a way that the costs for the consumer related to the increased gas and oil prices do not reflect unfavorably and reduce purchasing power," Tariceanu said. 

He added that there is openness on everyone's part to possibly change OUG 114, and a ruling coalition meeting on this issue will be held when a conclusion is reached.