The premier Giorgia Meloni and the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgettiyesterday they met the commander of the Guardia di Finanza, general Joseph Zafarana and subsequently a Council of Ministers was convened to address the problem of fuel prices which, starting from the beginning of the year, exceeded the psychological threshold of 2 euros per liter (in the "served" mode). On December 31, the deadline for the decree that controlled the impact of the price of excise duties on fuel, cutting some of them, expired.
Following the indications of the Mef, an internal circular of the Guardia di Finanza provides for a "structured and capillary" control activity on the territory, especially on the motorways, with the aim "to help curb price increases“. The plan has already started and involves over 660 operational departments of the Corps, supported by the special departments.
The Fiamme Gialle also let it be known that any speculative maneuvers could constitute two different types of crime sanctioned by articles 501 and 501 bis of the penal code: 'fraudulent price increases and decreases on the public market or on stock exchanges' and 'speculative maneuvers on goods '.
It was therefore decided to dedicate a decree for price monitoring which will no longer be weekly but daily. Thus is introduced theobligation to display the price at the pump with penalties that could be imposed by the prefect. The new measures provide for another regulation to set a ceiling on increases in the cost of fuel on the motorways.
Among other things, the managers will have to display signs indicating the national average price established by the Ministry of the Environment.
The prime minister and the League have taken the initiative because they are convinced that the increases are the result of speculation. while Forza Italia thinks that the problem is caused exclusively by excise duties.
"On fuels – underlines the group leader Alexander Cattaneo - in our opinion, speculation is not taking place, but there is certainly an issue related to prices, which we must address".
"The government - he claims Matteo Salvini - “tip ad intervene on concessionary companies and above all on those who manage the toll booths and petrol pumps on the motorways, to keep prices under control, because going to work cannot and should not be a luxury".
The Minister for Relations with Parliament, Luca Ciriani, explains that "the government's decision not to extend the cut in excise duties was very thought out and very painful, a measure which however costs over one billion a month. The government has decided to use those resources to increase minimum pensions, to cut the tax wedge, therefore all social measures. It is clear that if there is the possibility, and the accounts allow it, we will be able to reduce the cost of petrol as soon as possible. But I remember that we have committed 30 billion to reduce the cost of bills".
Not only politics but also theAntitrust asked the Gdf for the documentation of the confirmed violations. Ministry of the Environment releases data according to which the increase in prices, in the first week of January, is "substantially in line with the increase due to the failure to extend the excise cut".
For Codacons "the prices should have gone down a lot more”assuming "anomalies or speculations". Faib ConfesercentiInstead, he says that "the managers are the injured party”.