Citizens ‘grilled’ Linić on Twitter and Facebook

Finance Minister Slavko Linić answered questions posed by citizens on Twitter and Facebook. The government, as reported by Dnevnik.hr, today published his responses.

Citizens asked Linić who will create the software for fiscal cash registers, how much it will cost entrepreneurs, and what the installation and maintenance costs will be?
– In Croatia, the software is entirely owned by the Tax Administration, all costs of the software and the main computer are borne by the Tax Administration. The only cost for users or taxpayers is the computer, connection to the software, and accreditation which will cost around 100 kuna, said the minister.

When asked where he sees Croatia in the future, he replied: – When we talk about the future of Croatia, the government is fighting for new jobs, for as much investment as possible, and economic growth in investments. This means I see Croatia as a country that will have a larger number of hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, both refineries, drilling rigs in the Adriatic, and many alternative sources. It will have wind farms, as many solar power plants as possible, which means we will no longer import energy. But also, a multitude of hotels, new hotel capacities, many tourists who will not come only in the summer. Agriculture that will put at least 80% of our agricultural land under cultivation, and all this will be consumed by our tourism, our citizens, which means little food import. And of course, the number of employed close to one million six hundred thousand, and the number of unemployed around 100 thousand, thus over 200 thousand less than now. This means a secure job, salary, and a modest life. Nevertheless, we are a country that will still be a large debtor and responsible to creditors for a long time.

Citizens also wanted to know if there are other measures to stimulate the economy instead of introducing new taxes?
– Citizens of Croatia must understand: there is no increase in taxes, we have not increased taxes. VAT is linked to two index points, but at the same time, the health contribution on their salaries has been reduced, which means the competitive power of the Croatian economy is greater, the chance for a larger number of jobs. Likewise, we will strive in the future to reduce the health contribution from salaries from 13 to 7 percent. We are fighting for salaries to be able to grow because contributions are decreasing. Also, our goal is to reduce the contributions we currently pay, which are called surtaxes, which also go to salaries. The salary policy is to reduce contributions, reduce benefits, and that is the reason we consolidate our income through property tax and a one-time increase in VAT. So, there is no increase, there is a substitution. Why substitution? Because we want jobs, we want to be competitive, Linić replied.

The minister was also asked why the public is not familiar with the work of the Fiscal Policy Committee? The last publicly available report is from February 2012. Will the powers of its members be increased in the upcoming period, as recommended by the IMF Mission?
– The IMF proposal has been accepted, which means they will no longer be under the Ministry of Finance, so at this moment, a law is being drafted where the fiscal committee will be part of the Croatian Parliament, part of the Finance Committee, thus far from the executive power, so perhaps their work will be seen a bit more, or be more present in the public, explained Linić.

– Is everything that exists in terms of taxes in Europe and the world correct? When will you stop being a puppet of the idiots from the IMF? – was one of the questions.
– No, simply in the Croatian government there are experts who are aware that we have left socialism. This means that we must adapt our society, our tax system to the market economy. This means that the communal fee, which spoke about citizens paying some kind of parafiscal charge on real estate, per square meter and by location, we are transforming it into a clear and unambiguous tax based on value. This is a clear message from the government that we know what needs to be done and that we are adapting the system to property, or wealth based on property, asserted the minister.

They also asked him when ministers will sell those expensive cars and start taking the bus to work like everyone else and thus fill the budget?
Linić said that he drives an old car and often takes the bus.

– Many of us come to work on foot and by bus – he claims.
When asked why ministers do not lower their own salaries to the level of the average salary in Croatia, he replied: It is evident, when we compare ourselves with our salaries, at least ministers, those salaries are quite acceptable in relation to the average salary. The question remains whether someone wants us to be demagogues and for everyone in Croatia to have the same salary. The answer is that this government does not engage in such policies and messages, because then everyone in Croatia would have a salary of five thousand kuna. That is not possible. Citizens were interested in whether Linić will also pay tax on his properties?

– I am generally a person who can say that I married well because I have a wealthy wife who has 2 apartments and a third of a house and we will pay taxes since we do not live in the house – said Linić.