Galust Sahakyan is ready to exchange his house
The Armenian National Assembly today adopted the government's tax package which suggests introducing new taxes in the country.
"The new taxes will not cover the vulnerable stratum of society," Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Galust Sahakyan told A1+.
During the previous four-day NA sitting he blamed his colleagues for unawareness.
"As unawareness hovers throughout the parliament we did not neglect Heritage or ARF-Dashnaktsutyun and removed six taxes leaving only two. But the taxes are obligatory otherwise we shall lose the institute of self-government bodies," said Mr. Sahakyan.
"It is upon the community administration to decide whether to levy the tax or not. The taxes will be levied as soon as a law is passed on them.
The new taxes will mainly cover farmers having more than five hectare lands. There are people who have a land of hundred hectares but they do not cultivate it as they have some other business. Only 35-40 percent of the country's land is cultivated today. As soon as the new taxes are introduced they will have to pay for the extra soil or sell it. In this way we shall boost the business of real estate market. The hotel tax will not cover vulnerable people either as no peasant, worker or teacher has a hotel in Armenia."
A1+ wondered if the new taxes cover great businesses why the Republican, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties, the so-called Armenian business elite, voted for the law while the opposition which is thought to support the interests of ordinary people voted against the package.
"I advise you visiting the homes of opposition MPs," said Galust Sahaknyan and added: "I am ready to exchange my house with that of any oppositionist."
