jfm
Well-Known Member
Following on from earlier reports about the possible repeal of the Sardinia docking tax, Reuters reported this good news. Mapis have you heard any more locally?
QUOTE
The Italian island of Sardinia plans to repeal a luxury tax that targets the mega-rich, according to a March 24 Reuters report.
The tax is levied on those who moor yachts or land private aircraft on the Mediterranean island located just south of Corsica. Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily) and holds a special statute of autonomy under the Italian constitution.
The tax repeal comes as part of the proposed budget of the island's new president, Ugo Cappellacci of the center-right People of Freedom (the party of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi). Cappellacci was elected February 17. The luxury tax had been implemented by the island's previous president, Renato Soru of the center-left Democratic Party. Critics have contended that the luxury tax hurt Sardinia by discouraging tourism and scaring off wealthy visitors, according to media reports.
In addition to removing the luxury tax, Cappellacci has reportedly said he plans to remove some regulatory impediments to construction along the island's coastline while still observing environmental protection priorities.
Cappellacci's victory came as a boon to Berlusconi who had been wary of some slippage in recent polls. Also, the global economic crisis had begun to eat away at his approval rating, giving the Sardinian elections added importance for Berlusconi's center-right coalition.
With much at stake, Berlusconi campaigned heavily for Cappellacci, a relative novice and the son of Berlusconi's tax adviser, by traveling to the island five times since November 2008. Berlusconi had an additional stake in the outcome because the tax policy change would eliminate the taxes he must pay to access his Sardinian holiday mansion.
Cappellacci's election boosted Berlusconi's party and removed two center-left rivals. Soru had been pegged as a possible leader of the Democratic Party and future challenger to Berlusconi. More immediately, Berlusconi's main challenger, Walter Veltroni, resigned from his position as head of the Democratic Party as a result of the Sardinian defeat
END
QUOTE
The Italian island of Sardinia plans to repeal a luxury tax that targets the mega-rich, according to a March 24 Reuters report.
The tax is levied on those who moor yachts or land private aircraft on the Mediterranean island located just south of Corsica. Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily) and holds a special statute of autonomy under the Italian constitution.
The tax repeal comes as part of the proposed budget of the island's new president, Ugo Cappellacci of the center-right People of Freedom (the party of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi). Cappellacci was elected February 17. The luxury tax had been implemented by the island's previous president, Renato Soru of the center-left Democratic Party. Critics have contended that the luxury tax hurt Sardinia by discouraging tourism and scaring off wealthy visitors, according to media reports.
In addition to removing the luxury tax, Cappellacci has reportedly said he plans to remove some regulatory impediments to construction along the island's coastline while still observing environmental protection priorities.
Cappellacci's victory came as a boon to Berlusconi who had been wary of some slippage in recent polls. Also, the global economic crisis had begun to eat away at his approval rating, giving the Sardinian elections added importance for Berlusconi's center-right coalition.
With much at stake, Berlusconi campaigned heavily for Cappellacci, a relative novice and the son of Berlusconi's tax adviser, by traveling to the island five times since November 2008. Berlusconi had an additional stake in the outcome because the tax policy change would eliminate the taxes he must pay to access his Sardinian holiday mansion.
Cappellacci's election boosted Berlusconi's party and removed two center-left rivals. Soru had been pegged as a possible leader of the Democratic Party and future challenger to Berlusconi. More immediately, Berlusconi's main challenger, Walter Veltroni, resigned from his position as head of the Democratic Party as a result of the Sardinian defeat
END
