The PCP this Monday accused major economic groups of the Portuguese “winning at the expense of sacrifice” and called for a “thorough investigation” of speculative margins and pricing mechanisms.
Speaking to reporters in the Assembly of the Republic, Bruno Dias discussed figures sent by Galp to the Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that show a profit of 608 million euros in the first nine months of the year. 86% compared to the same period last year.
For the communist MP, these figures “are yet another demonstration of what the PKP warned about”, namely that “there are economic groups that benefit from the sacrifices of the vast majority of the Portuguese people and micro, small and medium-sized companies”.
Bruno Diaz stated that Galp’s profit “has a very specific explanation: the gross refining margin, that is, the profit earned by oil companies in dollars per barrel, rose from $2.80 to $12.40 in the same period this year.”
“They are winning the war. We warn against these policies that encourage economic groups to win the war and sanctions at the cost of casualties for all of us,” he said.
The PKP MP said that the energy sector “never had, as in recent months, profits, not even unforeseen events for the administrations themselves” and supported the need to investigate the matter.
“We need to find out and conduct a thorough investigation of the speculative mark-ups that have been practiced during this time, and even check in relation to pricing mechanisms,” he stressed.
When asked who could conduct this investigation, Bruno Diaz replied that “the PS government itself has recognized that such a need exists.”
“The Assembly of the Republic approved the recommendation of the PCP that this issue be raised in the context of the EU (…) and the countries that compete to operate these pricing platforms,” he said.
According to Bruno Diaz, this investigation will help to understand how “they come to those values and those quotes, which then compete for this gross refining margin in dollars per barrel, which is really scandalous.”
In addition to this investigation, the Communist MP confirmed the need for “concrete measures” such as control and price fixing, taxation of excess profits or “public control” over strategic sectors.
Asked if he thinks, given the rules set by the European Union (EU), that these paths are indeed a path that a government can take, Bruno Dias replied that “that’s the problem.”
“Today it is becoming clearer and clearer to all of us that the Brussels Rules are part of the problem, not part of the solution. [Isso] means that there should be a very specific discussion about the impact and results of this EU policy on our lives,” he said.
According to the MP of the PKP, “Portugal should basically protect its development, sovereignty and policies that protect national interests, and this is not happening.”
“There must be a turning point, a different policy in our country, opposing the great powers of the EU and the economic power that, in essence, dominates the political options of the European Union,” he defended.
Galp made a profit of 608 million euros in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 86% compared to the same period last year, and 187 million euros in the third quarter, an increase of 16%.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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