Bayrou attacks Italy: tax dumping. Palazzo Chigi: unfounded words

'Italy is doing a policy of fiscal dumping'. This was stated by French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou in an interview with four French television channels ahead of the confidence vote on 8 September. The premier referred to measures aimed at "the richest" who could "transfer" their tax residence elsewhere, because, the French premier said, "by now there is a kind of fiscal nomadism and everyone moves to where it is most convenient", citing Italy among the countries implementing these policies.

The reply from Palazzo Chigi was prompt. "The totally unfounded claims by French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, according to which Italy is doing tax dumping, penalising France, are astonishing. The Italian economy is attractive and is doing better than others thanks to the stability and credibility of our nation," underlines a note from Palazzo Chigi, in response to the French Prime Minister's claims.

"Italy does not apply unjustified tax favour policies to attract European companies and, with this government, has even doubled the flat-rate tax burden in force since 2016 on individuals transferring their residence to Italy. Rather, Italy has, for many years, been penalised by the so-called 'European tax havens', which siphon off considerable resources from our public coffers. We trust that, after these statements by its prime minister, France will finally join Italy in taking action in the European Union against those member states that have always applied systematic tax dumping, with the complacency of some European states,' the note concludes.