The PCP presented this Wednesday a diploma to fix the prices of essential food products, given that the large distribution is taking advantage of the international situation and that the “Zero VAT” measure has not stopped the price increase.
This PCP bill had already been tabled in the same general sense during the last parliamentary term – but before the entry into force of ‘Zero VAT’ – and was generally rejected in January this year with votes against by the PS, PSD, Chega and IL, and favorable votes from PCP, BE, PAN and Livre.
In the explanatory notes to this diploma, the party states that “despite the application of the ‘Zero VAT’ measure, the truth is that many prices [de produtos alimentares] continued to increase”, accusing Major Distribution of “opportunistically taking advantage of the consequences of the war and sanctions to increase its profit margin”.
“Without control over margins and prices, ‘Zero VAT’, which has asymmetric effects depending on the products, in many cases means appropriating even more margin for mass distribution,” he warns.
The PCP states that the profits of the major distribution prove this, noting that “Jerónimo Martins presented a profit of 590 million euros in 2022, after having achieved a profit of 463 million euros in 2021”, while Sonae in 2022 reported a profit of 342 million euros. and 268 million in 2021.
“At a time when workers and the population continue to lose their purchasing power, these colossal profits, while prices continue to rise, clearly demonstrate the need to intervene to defend the common good, especially in terms of access to essential goods” , he said. highlights.
In this context, the PCP “proposes the creation of a maximum price regime, to be applied to a basket of essential foodstuffs, which defines a reference price for each of the products, based on real costs and a non-speculative margin, thus prohibiting their sale “. at a higher price without reasonable justification”.
The goods to be included in the basket, the PCP states, are determined “on the basis of the list of food products subject to the reduced VAT rate of 6%”.
The party proposes that the maximum price regime should be supervised by “the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Economy”, where “it is desirable to establish a coordination and inspection unit, involving entities such as the Planning, Policy and and General Administrative Office of the Ministry of Agriculture are involved. and Food, the Directorate General of Consumer Affairs and ASAE”.
In the diploma, the PCP also stipulates that failure to comply with the rules will constitute a “very serious economic crime, punishable by a fine of a minimum of five thousand euros and a maximum of 2.5 million euros”.
The party states that this proposal gives the authorities the means “to intervene in the margins and prices charged in mass distribution, which have caused a heavy blow to the disposable income of the Portuguese”.
“In addition to creating structures with the mission of ‘observation’ regarding the prices charged, with this proposal the government is empowered to intervene directly and more effectively with a view to reducing the prices charged,” the diploma said.
Source: DN
