The undersecretary for relations with Parliament and exponent of Forza Italia, Matilde Siracusano, gave an interview to Il Tempo. This is her speech:
What is your opinion on the budget law passed by the Meloni government?
«The judgment is positive and the green light that arrives from the EU confirms the excellence of the work of the Meloni government. It wasn’t easy to build an emergency budget law in a few weeks, but we did it. We give immediate answers to families and companies, with 21 billion euros out of a total of 35 destined to offset high bills, and we are launching many measures present in the center-right program, which will be implemented in the coming years”.
Is a majority agreement possible on the increase of minimum pensions in the budget law, so desired by Forza Italia?
“The parliamentary approval of the maneuver will be an opportunity to improve the text. For Forza Italia, increasing minimum pensions is a priority. I am sure that the majority will find the right balance between the need to keep their accounts in order and the need to give an urgent signal to hundreds of thousands of people who currently live on just over 500 euros a month”.
Meanwhile, the opposition rejects the economic-financial maneuver without appeal. The president of M5s, Giuseppe Conte, defines it as the most recessive in recent years…
“The work of the oppositions must consist of trying to improve the dispositions, bringing to light possible conflicts within the majority. As this little game is not working, the left limits itself to inconclusive criticism. As for 5 Stars though, Conte is the antithesis of consistency. First as prime minister and then as leader of Grillino, he became the protagonist of comic twists and turns, the latest concerning the sending of weapons to Ukraine: a measure supported for months by his party and now rejected with contempt. The former prime minister is not credible».
Then there are the conclusions of the European Commission, in particular on the cash cap, POS and pensions.
«The Commission appreciated the wording of our Budget law, judged the macroeconomic hypotheses contained therein to be credible and promoted all the main measures. If we think that the budgets of countries like Germany, Holland and Austria were rejected by the EU, we can be proud of the result achieved. As for the use of the Pos, the executive is willing to discuss and, if necessary, revise the maximum limit of 60 euros indicated in the text. As for pensions, our option is political: we believe that “Qota 103” is sustainable for the State’s coffers».
Is it really necessary to review the National Recovery and Resilience Plan?
«The numbers say so objectively. We have galloping inflation, a vertiginous increase in energy and the cost of raw materials. Compared to two years ago, the world has changed, mainly due to the conflict in Ukraine. And for these reasons, an update of Pnrr is inevitable ».
Finally, the restart of the bridge project over the Strait. What will be the benefits of carrying out the work?
«The bridge over the Strait of Messina will act as an attraction for new investments. Only with a stable link between Sicily and Calabria will we be able to have high-speed trains, roads and motorways in tune with the rest of the country in both regions, a mobility of people and goods that can increase the strategic importance of these Mediterranean territories. It is a historic battle between Forza Italia and President Berlusconi: this time we will hit the target».
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
