The provinces protest against gas fare hikes

The controversy over escalating gas fares seems to have started. Salta, Jujuy, Tucuman, Santa Cruz, Neuquén, Mendoza and some districts of Buenos Aires added to the refusal of Chubut and Rio Negro -after court decision- to increase gas fares.

In Chubut, Das Neves brought forward the meeting with the senators because “the appeal court presented with the Federal Judiciary has become of relevant importance”.

“Before bloc of senators’ president Pichetto we said that we differed on the appraisal that the increase only affects or includes upper and middle classes, but it is clear that it also involves the poor sectors and people with very low incomes,” said the provincial leader about the decree that funds the gas import from Bolivia.

“If this issue doesn’t settle, it is more serious than the 125.” Said the governor.

In Rio Negro, the Federal Chamber of Appeals ratified the General Roca court decision against the hike in gas prices throughout the province, under the framing of a caution measures requested by the Ombudsman, Ana Piccinini.

Before the Federal Courts with jurisdiction in General Roca, Piccinini encouraged an appeal order issued to refrain the increases as being unconstitutional.

In this regard, the decision of the Federal Court is valid within the jurisdiction which includes the towns of Alto Valle y Valle Medio, Catriel and Río Colorado.

In Viedma and Bariloche, the gas company is issuing invoices without any increase as a result of the presidential decree.

In her request, the official member argued that users can’t be forced to pay extraordinary tax fares for an eventual expense of the National Estate, nor to levy a tax on another.

In Rosario, a user submitted an appeal that orders to reverse increase applied. The user paid 120 pesos and now got an for 640.

“We initiated a declaratory action asking for the unconstitutionality of the Executive Power No. 2067/2008 decree. We requested an injunction ordering the suspension of enforceability of this Decree and with this resolution today Litoral Gas is ordered to charge this period and the subsequent excluding VAT dierived from the decree”, said the counsel who followed Diego Czarny’s demand.

The request was submitted last week and this morning the court’s decision was learnt, which is a preliminary step until the issue of substance is resolved. Namely, until the increase’s effect is sorted out for all users.

“Meanwhile, the person who sponsored will receive the invoice without increases and the service won’t be cut,” said the lawyer.