Prime Minister Meloni asked his parliamentarians speed and seriousness to start the maneuver by the end of the year. In the meantime, the draft has received the stamp of the Accounting Office (there are financial coverages, ed) and the signature of the President of the Republic. The parliamentarians of the majority coalition repeat to reporters that with three quarters of the funds destined for expensive energy, what could be done, "for the moment". What is certain is that the government began its action at a very delicate moment in which little could really be done in the face of inflation hovering over 10 percent and with a deficit for 2022 of 5,6 percent. Yesterday there was also a meeting of about an hour at Palazzo Chigi with the representative of the third pole, Carlo Calenda who at the end of the visit commented as follows: “I found a very prepared person, we discussed the merits of the issues for an hour and a half and this is positive”. Thus, support for the maneuver would also emerge from the parliamentarians of the third pole.
The most salient measures
The document consists of 174 articles, respecting the framework designed by Giorgetti's ministry. The norm remains to raise a 60 euros the threshold for accepting cash payments, despite the close confrontation with Brussels. As the Ansa writes will be previthese two funds for cybersecurity and 50 million for metro C in Rome.
Unchanged they remain the 35 billion euros envisaged, of which around 21 are committed to expensive energy which thus forces the Government to cut the citizen's income which for eight months makes it cumulative with occasional jobs.
Dear energy. Improper charges on electricity bills disappear (e.g. nuclear disposal) and the social bonus is strengthened (the Isee threshold goes from 12.000 euros to 15.000 euros). The tax credit for businesses has also been strengthened. On the other hand, the fuel discount has been halved since December (from 30,5 to 18,3 cents).
Work. The more than 4 billion allocated will cut the wedge by 2 points for incomes up to 35 thousand euros, by 3 points for those up to 20 thousand euros. There is also an incentive for hiring: no contributions for those who hire women, young people under 36 or recipients of basic income. Job vouchers are also arriving in the agricultural sectors, in the Horeca sector and for housework up to 10 thousand euros.
Flat tax. Also confirmed for 2023 are the concessions for buying a first home for the under 36s. The ceiling for cash is also increased, which rises to 5.000 euros, and the threshold beyond which merchants are obliged to accept cards and debit cards is raised to 60 euros. Then confirmed the raising of the threshold of the flat tax from 65.000 euros to 85.000 euros for the self-employed who will also have a flat tax for income increases of up to 40 thousand euros.
Pensions. The indexing mechanism is revised, including the minimums increased up to 600 euros. For new releases, the 'flexible early retirement' – so-called Quota 103 – with 41 years of contributions and 62 years of age. But there is a 'ceiling' which, until reaching retirement age, cannot exceed five times the minimum pensions. The Women's Option is extended by one year, but only for three categories: caregivers, at least 74% disabled, employees of companies in crisis. Added to this is the raising of the leaving age from 58 to 60: it will decrease on the basis of the number of children by one year for each child, up to a maximum of two.
Companies. The guarantee fund for SMEs is refinanced with 1 billion. The IPO bonus, a tax credit to encourage the listing of SMEs on the stock exchange, is also extended. The suspension of the entry into force of the plastic and sugar tax has also been extended for 2023.
Extra profits. The tax becomes a solidarity contribution paid by subjects who produce, import or sell electricity, gas and petroleum products in Italy. The contribution is 50% of the 2022 income which exceeds the average 10-2018 income by at least 21%. 7 thousand companies are affected.
Inflation. To help families, VAT drops from 10 to 5% for baby products and feminine hygiene products. A fund of 500 million euros is also set up for the "Shopping savings card” for incomes up to 15 thousand.
School – Healthcare. For the school, Minister Valditara announced, there are about 530 million more than last year. Among other things, the restoration of the contribution to equal schools (70 million) and 24 million to disabled transport is envisaged. New resources are also planned for healthcare (1,4 billion for 2022 and 500 million for 2023).
Transportation. Approximately 3,1 billion is allocated for local authorities, including public transport. Check a fund (160 million) to combat soil consumption. For the bridge over the Strait, the reactivation of the company Stretto di Messina spa in liquidation, founded in 1981, is envisaged. In addition, the upward updating of the amounts of road fines is avoided.
The reactions of Lega and Forza Italia
"The priorities of the League are already amply satisfied in the budget law, now by studying the final text carefully we will see what can be improved: we will present some amendments but we are very satisfied with what already exists“. The group leader said so League in the Chamber, Riccardo Molinari, at the end of the majority meeting at Palazzo Chigi on the manoeuvre.
"All the political forces are satisfied, in the work of the commission and of the Chamber we will try to bring some improvements but nothing overwhelming because the text already meets our expectations. We have given ourselves a working method on deadlines and working times - has explained -, we have looked at the calendar of the various decrees that we will have in the month of December, we are starting to make hypotheses on how to set up the work in the Chamber, we have only talked about this. There is not only the maneuver, there are the justice decrees, NATO, the Aid quater, it is a very crowded December from a parliamentary point of view".
"We have defined the time table for an orderly performance of parliamentary work given that the attention of the Chambers there are various decrees, such as the Calabria-Nato decree, the justice decree and we have also seen the deadlines of the Budget law. There has been a commitment on the part of everyone to speed up the times". He reported it to journalists as he left the meeting at Palazzo Chigi the President of the senators of Fi Licia Ronzulli. When asked if Fi had reassurances or guarantees on his amendments, Ronzulli replied: "we have not talked specifically about the amendments. Fi will present proposals on tax relief for the hiring of young people and on minimum pensions, but no guarantees have been given". The reporters then asked if President Meloni had asked for a limitation in the number of amendments: "it is the sense of responsibility of all of us that will lead to limiting the number: not many but of excellent quality".