CoS rules against power cut if property tax is not paid
Electricity supply cannot be cut anymore to users who have not paid for the special property tax through the electricity bill, as the Council of State ruled late on Friday that the measure violates the Greek Constitution.
In its ruling the CoS, whose plenary convened behind closed doors on Friday, said that the imposition of the emergency tax through the power bills is constitutional and legal provided it is not a permanent tax, as it has been imposed for just two years: 2011 and 2012.
However, cutting the electricity supply cannot be justified and runs against the country’s constitution, the plenary of the CoS ruled.
It followed a recourse to the country’s top constitutional court by a number of lawyer associations who had asked whether imposing the tax and threatening to cut the power supply contravened the Constitution.
The CoS reserved the right to examine the case again should the government render the tax permanent.
