Scandal brews over contract with private firm to collect new French 'green' tax
The controversy surrounding the planned introduction in France of a new ‘eco-tax’ on lorries is fast-developing into a potentially vast political scandal over the conditions of a contract signed with a private company to operate and collect the levy. The tax scheme was initially devised by the previous, conservative-led government and former ministers are now under fire over the surprisingly generous terms of the agreement signed with Italian company Ecomouv’. Amid calls for the creation of a parliamentary commission of enquiry into the affair, a preliminary investigation was opened by the public prosecutor’s office on Wednesday to determine the legality of the tender competition. Martine Orange reports on the latest developments and the background to what has become a costly farce.
AA growing popular movement against the introduction of the new ‘eco-tax’ on goods transport vehicles last month forced the socialist government to suspend the scheme that was to be launched on January 1st. But the emerging details of the contract signed under the previous conservative government with the company chosen to enforce the levy now place any introduction of the tax at all in serious jeopardy.
