Fees

Here is wealth for the super rich proposed by Elly Schlein

The Dem leader launches the idea of an international tax on the super-rich at European level, but the debate is still open

9 October 2024

La segretaria del Partito Democratico Elly Schlein ospite dello Sky TG24 Live In Roma presso le Corsie Sistine
Roma, 08 ottobre 2024.
ANSA/FABIO CIMAGLIA — La segretaria del Partito Democratico Elly Schlein ospite dello Sky TG24 Live In Roma presso le Corsie Sistine Roma, 08 ottobre 2024. ANSA/FABIO CIMAGLIA

2' min read

"Tax? We would not agree to raise taxes on the middle class, but I think he is right Lula to ask governments for an international tax on the super rich. This discussion can be had. So progressive taxation is fine, but not raising taxes on the middle class'. This was said by the Pd secretary, Elly Schlein, to Live In Sky Tg24. So it is good to discuss a patrimonial asset at a 'European, international, concerted level. An agreement was reached on minimum corporate taxation, so Lula did well to bring the taxation of the super-rich to the attention of governments'.

The wealth demanded by Lula

But what did Lula demand/propose? At the end of July, in the declaration of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil's President Lula obtained the inclusion of this passage: 'In full respect of fiscal sovereignty, we will seek to engage cooperatively to ensure that individuals with a very high net worth are effectively taxed'. It is to this passage that the Pd secretary refers.

The Pse resolution at the Malaga congress

In the resolution of the congress in Malaga in November 2023, the PES also proposed a European tax on large assets. That is why it will now be up to Nicola Zingaretti, head of the PD delegation in the S&D group, to push for this proposal. But Schlein seems determined to go ahead as she can count on the support of Avs.

In France Barnier announced wealth for the richest

During his policy address to the National Assembly on 1 October, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier also announced the need to cut spending and raise taxes in order to pay off France's ''colossal'' debt. Barnier announced, in particular, ''an exceptional contribution'' from the ''richest French people'' and a ''participation in the collective recovery of large companies that make significant profits''.

Elly Schlein: Patrimoniale? È una discussione che si può fare

Lack of agility in the current EU Commission

The chances of getting a proposal like Schlein's through in a committee like the current one, which is very unbalanced to the right (only 4 socialist commissioners out of 27), are, however, very slim. The previous commission, thanks to the efforts of Paolo Gentiloni, managed to pass the directive setting a minimum tax rate of 15% for multinationals operating in the EU. What will the Ursula bis commission do?

In Italy majority wall

And in Italy a wall immediately goes up from the majority. "When the Schlein talks about patrimonial assets, my ears perk up because I obviously think that she can propose taxation either on the savings that Italians have in their current accounts, and they have already been taxed, or on the homes of Italians, which are among the most taxed in Europe," comments the deputy prime minister and secretary of the League, Matteo Salvini.