Critics of the proposal to abolish the reduced VAT rate on food warn that such a move would be socially regressive and harmful to the most vulnerable members of society. Food is a basic necessity, and any tax increase on these items acts as a direct burden on the cost of living. For families already struggling with inflation and rising energy costs, an increase in the price of staples like bread and vegetables would be a significant blow to their purchasing power.
Opponents argue that the economic benefits of tax simplification do not justify the social costs. While a uniform tax rate might look cleaner on a spreadsheet, it ignores the reality that low-income households spend a much larger percentage of their income on food than the wealthy. Increasing the tax rate to 19 percent would effectively function as a tax hike on the poor, exacerbating existing inequalities in the country.
Furthermore, there is skepticism about whether the government would actually use the additional revenue to help those affected. Critics fear that the money would simply be absorbed into the general budget to cover other spending priorities, leaving low-income families to bear the brunt of the price increases without any compensatory support. Maintaining the reduced VAT rate is seen as a vital social safeguard that ensures essential nutrition remains accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.