Geneva wants to quickly review its vehicle tax

When a canton is so accustomed to taking absurd measures that a term is invented for it, “Genferei” or “Genevoiserie”, one wonders if it does not sometimes take new ones on purpose. to preserve this dubious reputation. The new Geneva car tax law is the latest example.

Reminder of the facts, to understand all the absurdity of the situation. It all starts from an initiative by the Geneva UDC aimed at… reducing car taxes by half. But members of the PLR, the Center, the PS and the Greens of the tax commission of the Grand Council oppose a counter-project called: “For an eco-responsible and equitable taxation of motor vehicles”.

This text plans to tax electric and hydrogen engines according to the weight of the vehicle, while thermal cars will be taxed according to their CO emissions.₂. On paper, this doesn’t seem like anything, since we’re talking about a tax ranging from 25 cents to 12 francs. Except it’s per gram per kilometer.

The people accepted this good idea with 56.73% of the votes on March 3. It was this week that the people of Geneva received their new tax: for two thirds, it is a reduction. For a third, an increase. But which can be significant with increases of up to 500%, the slap in the face! According to figures published by RTS, a 2001 petrol VW Polo sees its tax increase from 210 francs to 750 francs or a 1998 Citroën Evasion goes from 297 to 2100 francs. Yes, because it emits 252 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. All this must be paid by December 31 of this year at the latest.

The TCS has received an avalanche of stunned calls since then, mainly from lower-middle-class people or retirees, who have cars more than 15 years old. The tax may be ecological, but it seems not very social.

Everyone seems to be amazed, while the State Councilor in charge of mobility, Pierre Maudet, explains to “Forum” that there had been “a lot of work and simulations upstream of this law. We cannot say that the deputies were not aware.”

And what do we do when we realize that a law passed and applied has harmful effects which were foreseeable, but which we seem not to have foreseen? We react urgently. This was explained last night on “7:30 p.m.” by the President of the Government Nathalie Fontanet.

First measure to take, according to her: validate the text tabled by her party, the PLR, which proposes to provide for a staggered payment of this new tax over 2025 and 2026. Remember that the PLR ​​is one of the parties at the origin of the counter-project accepted by the people.

Second step, support a proposal from the Liberties and Social Justice (LJS) movement, which asks the Council of State to review the law by providing a shield capping taxes. Taking back control is what the government is doing, said Nathalie Fontanet. “I will not hide from you that the Council of State is extremely concerned. The situation is not tenable.”

Very concretely, the government also wants to find solutions for people who cannot cope with the massive increase to which they are victims. He is thinking about tax rebates.

The president recalls that all this is not the fault of her government, but of Parliament and that the departments of the department concerned responded to all requests for information. “Clearly no one has gone far enough in terms of questions.” However, she specifies: “Today, we are not looking for responsibility and blame for what happened.”

Still, for a law targeting automobiles, it’s a bit embarrassing to be so off base.