The 2025 budget will come to the Parliament on October 21, and the framework announced by the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti will be shaped into a text that will start the parliamentary process. The opposition declares a fight, but the majority parties reach a compromise. “We are satisfied,” Forza Italia’s Roberto Pella, chairman of the chamber’s Budget Commission, tells Today.it, adding: “The international economic framework and the new rules that Europe imposes on national budgets must be taken into account”.
Don’t you think more could be done?
“It would be very complicated and difficult to predict any names other than those that the government will bring to the Parliament. Despite all this, there are no tax increases and serious resources are spent, which the social context of the country requires. This 2.3 billion will not only be used to recruit new doctors and nurses, but also It is stated that it will also enable the provision of better health services for chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes and the reduction of waiting lists exceeding three billion, and a significant number has been allocated for especially important chapters on health services.
The issue on which the opposition objects to the figures is precisely related to the health sector. They claim that we are at the lowest level in the last 15 years in terms of GDP. What do you answer?
“We only say that we allocated 3 billion more, this is the figure. These are additional measures compared to the previous ones. Then, if you calculate inflation and other expenses, that is another thing, but the resources we invest also respond to this.” We also intervene in the benefits of using part of the funds linked to Pnrr for home care. In short, I believe that such large numbers have never been seen before in healthcare in such a context.”
There was a heated debate, mostly over whether banks’ extra profits should be taxed. Finally, a mediation agreement was reached with the contributions of institutions and insurance companies. Deduction advance until 2027. Isn’t there a risk that this money will be returned later?
“Forza Italia, through Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, puts forward the result originally proposed, that is, that extra profits should not be taxed. Also, frankly, extra profit is a word that does not make much sense, because we are in a liberal country. Therefore, we believed that it was not right to tax the profits made by companies more, and this is “For this reason, we decided to provide solidarity support from the banking and insurance world in a completely different way.”
“In the next few hours – continues Pella – a discussion table will begin to determine the best solutions: the desire on both sides to find a meeting point. About what will happen next and whether these resources will need to be moved to the next three-year budget plan I do not see this risk : As mayor for five terms, I can tell you that three-year plans change from year to year, and therefore I believe that Minister Giorgetti has also set up this study well with a perspective on how the situation will change in the coming years, where lowering interest rates can lead to more resources being allocated to the budget. “Let’s take it one step at a time, if we need to fix something we’ll do it.”
There are those who say that in the end it might be better for the banks to pay the contribution, because they have so many insufficient loans from the Superbonus that they can benefit from the increase in the taxable amount. Like this?
“Indeed. And this shows that when things are shared in a common way between the national government and the relevant parties (in this case banks and insurance companies), solutions can be found that can be budgetary and at the same time harmonious. The proof for everyone is that the 2025 maneuver is not yet certain “The fact that there is no objection from the relevant parties during these hours when the meeting is not determined is an indication that there is a dialogue and a will to share the road. The same thing is happening in local governments.”
About local authorities. They are the ones who may suffer the consequences of planned cuts to ministries, which could slow down the construction of public works and squeeze services to citizens. Do you already have an idea of what will be affected by these cuts?
“Minister Giorgetti has envisaged a series of cuts that must be openly shared with other ministers in order to arrive at common choices, because every individual in Castiero knows very well what the dynamics are and what the overall picture of his work is. Choice How much cuts will be made in this or that ministry depends on this dialogue “Maybe they will cut spending by 4 percent, they will cut by 6 percent, bringing the average to 5 as MEF stated, move towards rationalization of spending and therefore try to optimize incoming spending as a function of spending.”
So, will local governments be affected by these cuts?
“As regards the municipal sector, Minister Giorgetti assured me in the meetings with Anci, which I currently chair (after the election of Antonio Decaro to the European Parliament, ed.), that there will be no further spending cuts. This is especially important for small and very small municipalities and “New resources are also being determined to cover the expenses of minors, who create many difficulties. The center-right government, unlike others, always shows the desire to find solutions with the actors, in this case the Regions and Municipalities.”
Is there a budget line item you would impose on yourself to avoid cuts and have more resources?
“At Forza Italia, we continue to work on the things we set out from the beginning, from increasing pensions to reducing Irpef rates. For us, these are choices that produce more wealth and more spending capacity on the part of citizens and retirees. Minimum pensions, which were adjusted in previous maneuvers, are currently “The famous one-thousand-euro deficit will bring them closer to our goal of increasing pensions, so we will work to rationalize spending.”
“The minimum pension, already adjusted in previous maneuvers, will come even closer to the goal we have set, that is, to the now famous one thousand euros.”
Roberto Pella on Today.it
However, an extension of the flat tax is out of the question. Disappointed?
“No, but I would like to remind you that there was a very serious increase last year. The center-right government has reduced people’s taxes in the last two years. Then I would like to emphasize that we were in this situation until 2024. Starting from 2025, we will have completely a different post-Covid economic regime, the old rules of the game are back and the new rules work well because the government does not burden citizens: Imagine France having to impose a capital tax and Germany increasing taxes significantly. “Everyone makes their own judgment from time to time, but to use a metaphor, matches should be played on the field: that’s easy, from home. Tell the player he has to put the ball in the net, but when you’re there everything becomes more complicated, we win the game even against countries that raise taxes to make a living.”
The opposition opposes the measure plan, arguing that it does not bring growth.
“In politics, everyone tells their own version, what suits them. I say, if the spread decreases, if the Italian stock market continues to rise and is among the best in the world, there will probably be those who bet on Italy. Investors see the change in Italy’s pace and appreciate it The center-left should also read this data, given that it has used it to attack other governments in the past when it was negative.”
Source: Today IT
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.
