The government is tackling the consequences of the global financial crisis in a balanced way, and now businessmen and wealthy people are called upon to contribute to the state's income and the promotion of social solidarity, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said on Wednesday.
He added that those who react to the social solidarity measures of the government must answer if the workers alone will have to pay the consequences.
Stephanou said that ''the position and policy of the government is that, in order to overcome the repercussions of the crisis, everyone must contribute, according to their capacity.''
''The aim of the government's policy is to reduce expenditure, increase revenue, support growth and the welfare state. We have already taken decisions and measures in these four directions, and promoted policies that have borne fruit,'' he pointed out.
Stephanou said that entrepreneurship, growth and the banks have been supported in this context, adding that the European Commission has noted in its recent report that Cyprus' excessive deficit was due primarily to the global financial crisis and also to the measures taken to boost the economy, which had been adopted in the context of the European policy for the recovery of the economy.
''Now businessmen and the wealthy are called upon to contribute to an increase in the state revenue and to promoting social solidarity,'' he pointed out.
He added that reaction to a proposed temporary increase in tax on company profits was excessive and unfounded, noting that the increase is a mere 1% and would be abolished on 31 December 2011.
Stephanou noted that the government was not only trying to increase its revenue but also to cut costs, adding that it was reducing the number of civil servants and cutting operational costs in the civil service.
He also said that the government has supported the welfare state with a series of decisions, and that the increase in taxation on large properties worth millions of euros would be almost indiscernible.
Those who react to government measures should explain who they think should help tackle the fallout from the global financial crisis, Stephanou said.
''If the wealthy people do not contribute to tackling the consequences of the financial crisis, to the extent of their capacity, then who will? The workers? The employees? Those who object should give an answer to these questions,'' he concluded.
