The Portuguese government refused to follow Spain's example in reducing fuel taxes. This decision was announced by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, who explained the executive's position.
The minister justified the decision by emphasizing that taxation on fuels is essential for funding the National Health Service and Education. In other words, fuel taxes represent an important source of revenue for these fundamental areas.
According to Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portugal prioritizes other tax relief measures, namely the reduction of income tax and corporate tax. The government thus chooses to focus its efforts on these areas instead of reducing fuel taxes.
The executive's strategy also involves maintaining the balance of public accounts, which is considered a priority beyond tax relief. This approach differs from the measure taken by Spain, which decided to reduce fuel taxes.
