The manoeuvre arrives in Parliament on Monday, the race for changes begins: healthcare in the crosshairs

The manoeuvre has not yet arrived in Parliament but it is already a numbers war between the majority and opposition on the health care front. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni opens Thursday in Brussels by blaming the "mystifications" on this front and claiming, data in hand, an "historic record" with the increase of the National Health Fund rising to 136.48 billion in 2025 and 140.6 billion in 2026.

But Dem secretary Elly Schlein goes to the clash precisely by sticking to those numbers and emphasising that the calculation should not be made so much 'on absolute figures' but by looking at the percentage of GDP, which has fallen by half a point since 2010. "The lowest percentage," says Schlein, "in the last 15 years. There are also those in the majority who are ironic: 'If the GDP was zero then shouldn't funds be allocated? But so be it. Giuseppe Conte also goes on the attack: the record tells 'the 4.5 million Italians who cannot be cured'. Criticism also comes from the president of Gimbe, Nino Cartabellotta, who invites Meloni to leave the records to the sporting world and cites the Dpb that foresees '860 million more in 2025'.

The clash, in short, remains open while the House is waiting for the arrival of the manoeuvre in line with the timescale envisaged by law (but in reality always poorly respected) at the beginning of next week, plausibly - according to majority sources - not before Tuesday when a press conference is also scheduled by the premier to present the measures. The text, according to reports, had not yet reached the Quirinale during the day, while the fiscal decree, which includes, among other things, the refinancing of the Ape sociale and funds for overtime for the police force, should be published soon in the Gazzetta and its examination could start in Palazzo Madama.

In the Senate, meanwhile, Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti spoke at the question time, vindicating the choices made. "One can challenge anything to this manoeuvre,' said the head of the MEF, 'but not that it goes against the poor Cristi'. And even with regard to the 'sacrifice' asked of banks and insurance companies, Giorgetti emphasised: "That's OK, look at the spread". Certainly not casual words also in view of the first ratings agencies' judgments on Italy. S&P Global Ratings and Fitch will express themselves in the evening at closed markets. As far as the contribution of credit institutions is concerned, among other things, the president of Abi, Antonio Patuelli, speaks of a 'bearable sacrifice'. Because, he observes, this is what it is all about, since 'postponing tax credits is a sacrifice, the convenience is to discount them immediately'.

Instead, it is a mere roundabout according to the oppositions: 'In the manoeuvre,' says Nicola Fratoianni, 'no new taxes for banks and insurance companies, but a simple loan is requested. "The next manoeuvre," says Iv with Silvia Fregolent, "will not be paid by the banks, but by the citizens who already pay taxes, singles, grandparents, families with adult children. While waiting for the papers, in any case, the clash is already open and will become even more so when the manoeuvre in Parliament will unleash the parties' 'appetites'. In the majority, if the 'zero amendments' line that existed last year is ruled out at the moment, moral suasion is in place to limit or at least agree on requests. Among those of the opposition is certainly that of equal leave. On the new parents' front, in addition to the Card bebè of one thousand euro, a first step forward has been taken with the extension of leave by one month to 80%. But the oppositions, Pd in primis, are calling for it to be five months equal and non-transferable. A point on which Elly Schlein has made it known in the past that she has not found a preclusion on the part of the premier. 'Let's see what proposal they make to us,' says Labour Undersecretary Claudio Durigon in this regard, 'and we are ready to examine it. We are not against it'.