During yesterday’s session the government approved the amendment and changes to the law on excise tax, and cancelling the laws on the payments for cigarette production and for petrol and diesel. According to the officials, by doing this the government is going to turn to a more effective method of taxing cigarette production and the sale of petrol and diesel, thus providing the responsibilities toward the IMF taken on by the Armenian government. This will help to improve the level of tax collection to the budget from cigarette production. In other words, as a result of these changes the prices of cigarette, petrol and diesel will be increased starting from 2014. The prices will be increased significantly in consideration of the fact that it is being done spontaneously and it will be done till 2014. Otherwise the prime minister would not say that this issue had been discussed with the producers and importers for a long time. It is not a new thing that the government can do anything it wants to people and they can raise prices of any products any time they want. However, it is very disgusting when they are doing it by expressing words like they would care about people. “The problem is that for example cigarette is very cheap in Armenia and available to everyone. In our country the sicknesses as a result of smoking are widespread too. Thus the prices should be gradually increased, which will be an effective struggle against smoking…” said the prime minister. Everyone knows that smoking is dangerous for health but hardly the prime minister’s worries may make anybody quit smoking. Hence people will have to pay more for cigarettes. However, the government does not want to increase the alcohol excise tax as well. If we are not mistaken, drinking is not so good for health either. We wonder why they don’t do that. Maybe the prime minister likes drinking. Definitely no; just he likes when the others are drinking toasts to him. According to our sources, in the recent times during parties the prime minister offers others to drink a toast to him. Psychologists are advising not to look for any characteristics of narcissism in his behavior because he is suggesting not to drink his personal toast but his toast as the best prime minister of Armenia. Forward, Armenian World!
