2024-04-16 05:01:33
“I support the social initiative launched by the business – 4 percent. from GDP for defense. This goal is ambitious, but certainly achievable. However, I see that most of the talk is about increasing VAT. We all know that all residents of Lithuania pay VAT when purchasing goods, it is not a business tax. Maybe it would be more in solidarity to talk about what the business itself can contribute”, said G. Nausėda in an interview with TV3 television.
“We need to finance our defense not from all the people, but from a part of our economic success,” he emphasized.
If the opposition parties do not participate in the defense meetings, important decisions may be postponed until 2026.
G. Nausėda warned that if all political parties do not participate in discussions on defense financing, important decisions may be postponed even to 2026. The head of the country considers such a scenario unacceptable.
“We remember very well that a meeting was scheduled with the prime minister, in which the opposition parties were also supposed to participate. Suddenly, a decision is made regarding the appointment of a minister, and on his way out, he makes serious accusations about corrupt connections. And next week, the opposition parties do not participate in the debate. It goes without saying that in such circumstances it is extremely difficult to achieve a result, but we have no choice,” explained G. Nausėda.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister I.Šimonytė initiates the third meeting between business and politicians regarding funding for defense.
In March, at the second such meeting, four options were presented on how to collect more than 400 million in the next year’s budget. euros for additional financing of national defense.
According to the first option, the amount could be collected by revising progressive tax rates, taxation of individual activities, abolition of some benefits and up to 16 percent. with an increase in corporate tax. According to the second, 420 million 1 percent of euros could be collected. by increasing both the value added tax and the corporate tax.
The third proposal, which would generate about 400 million EUR – to increase the corporate tax rate by 2%, cancel the preferential rate for small companies, as well as – benefits for heating and business licenses. At that time, the fourth offer for 400 mln. euros would consist of 2 percent. points for the defense of the increase in the profit tax and the allocation of a part of the personal income tax falling on the municipalities.
For their part, the opposition factions that did not participate in I. Šimonytė’s meeting suggest finding funds for defense by introducing a bank property tax, issuing defense bonds, and reducing the shadow in the economy.
National defense funding in Lithuania will amount to 2.75 percent this year. from GDP, but it is aimed that this amount will reach at least 3% in the coming years.
2024-04-16 05:01:33