In a humiliating climb-down Tuesday, the French government “suspended indefinitely” a green tax on heavy goods vehicles that was due to go into force in January 2014, following a weekend of violent protests in Brittany.
The unpopular “ecotax”, aimed at encouraging environmentally-friendly commercial transport, was designed to impose new levies on French and foreign vehicles transporting commercial goods weighing over 3.5 tonnes.
Critics in Brittany said the tax would seriously damage the region’s precarious farming and food sectors by increasing transportation costs, driving companies out of business and leading to major job losses.
Local businesses and farmers argued that because Brittany had less rail infrastructure than other French regions, it was being unfairly penalised because most goods there have to be transported by road.
Val says how much humiliation can the government take. You decide on a policy in government after debating all the pitfalls and then you announce it and stick to it. Showing a weak dithering government does not make you popular. Make the policy fair and then stick to it. ( said with shades of Maggie in my voice.)
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