Naharnet

Gemayel Says State Must Stop Corruption Instead of Imposing Taxes

Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel deplored on Monday the cabinet's tendency to impose new tax reforms to fund the long-stalled wage scale and stressed that corruption and squandering of public funds must instead be stopped.

“We stand beside the employees' rightful request and we will vote in favor of the wage scale, but we cannot turn a blind eye on the political authority's shameful and disgraceful approach. The problem is not about the pay hike, but rather about the revenues to finance it,” said Gemayel.

“It is a pity that they suggested 22 new tax reforms that affect the entire Lebanese without any exception. It is not true (what the political authority claims) that it will only affect a specific segment of the Lebanese,” he stressed.

Pointing out to the increased corporate taxes he said: “New taxes will affect all the companies already paying taxes to the State, meanwhile the majority of these corporates are distressed. Taxes on travel tickets will also prevent many Lebanese from visiting their country.”

He lamented how the state found it easy to impose new taxes to fund the scale instead of exerting efforts to end corruption and stop squandering.

Gemayel stressed that if rectified, tax evasion alone can finance the wage scale and many more, he said: “4.2 billion dollars is the amount wasted by the state as the result of tax evasion. This alone can finance more than one scale.

“The state has paid 9.45 billion dollars since 2010 in funding to end the electricity shortage for failure to privatize the sector. It is distressing to see that it has become unacceptable to end corruption and acceptable to burden people with taxes.”

Gemayel concluded addressing the political authority, he said: “The Lebanese are aware of your corrupt practices and will eventually hold you accountable. You go ahead and approve the taxes on Wednesday and we will see the reaction of the Lebanese.”

Source: Naharnet


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