Senate green light for the manoeuvre, now passes to the House

The Senate gave the green light to the manoeuvre, which now passes to the House. There were 110 'yes' votes, 66 'no' votes and 2 abstentions, and the note on changes to the state budget had previously passed. This concludes in Montecitorio the bumpy path (especially at the end) of a streamlined budget, more so than the Meloni government's others, built to achieve the objective of exiting the excessive deficit procedure, staying below the 3% parameter, while maintaining the commitment made last year to lower the Irpef tax by two points for the middle class and renewing the investment relief for businesses.

"A budget is built on political choices: we raised taxes on financial income and lowered those on workers by 43 billion. This budget law is also part of a mosaic and the real data give us a completely different picture from the self-destructive narrative of the left. Italy respects 12 out of 13 indicators according to the European grid of the Mega economic imbalance procedure: we are the only country in Europe and no one is telling this story'. Thus the senator of Fratelli d'Italia and member of the Finance Committee, Giorgio Salvitti, speaking during the explanation of vote on the state budget underway in the Senate. "Let's take the good ones: France, which has not approved a budget for two years, along with Germany and England, is going through a very deep crisis while we have a spread at 66 basis points and savings over five years that will be 17 billion euros. It is by freeing up resources that we have been able to cut taxes on incomes up to EUR 28,000 and today we reach the EUR 50,000 threshold. Per capita GDP at constant prices has grown by 13.8%. The purchasing power of Italian households per capita in 2024 is over 20 thousand euros, 2% higher than in 2022. Is there anyone who spreads such news? Enough also with the false narrative of the increase in the tax burden: it rises because tax revenues increase thanks to 1.4 million more workers. The real pressure on citizens' pockets will fall by more than 40 billion in total," he added. "In addition, we put an extra 20 billion on healthcare, increases both in absolute value and as a percentage of GDP. Perhaps if we are forced to increase resources every year, the problem lies in the quality of spending. At the same time, we are carrying out an epoch-making tax reform and, finally, the complementary social security that will allow our young people to have an adequate and dignified pension. Certainly we could have done more, but our forced choices are dictated by previous disasters

"I found the approach defined by Giorgetti as prudent on public accounts to be agreeable, prudence is advisable and this manoeuvre is essentially constructed to get out of the infringement procedure". Thus Carlo Calenda, in the Senate chamber. 'Ours is not a preconceived judgement but one of merit. I hope it is appreciated when we recognise the government's merit as well as when we criticise a government measure,' explained the Action leader. Giving a positive assessment for 'the reintroduction of Industry 4.0' and 'the financing of healthcare', Calenda lamented the lack of 'a strategy'.

"The quality of concerts has increased but the quantity of time dedicated to the budget law has decreased, and the responsibility lies with the government". This was said by Italia Viva leader Matteo Renzi in the explanations of vote on the confidence placed on the manoeuvre, citing Claudio Baglioni's recent concert in the Senate Chamber. 'Giorgetti,' he continued, 'judges prudent a manoeuvre that is mediocre. You split like a mussel between the sovereignists and those who wanted austerity. It is 'ugly without soul' this law, since we are in the mood for singing quotes'. Citing some of the measures contained in the budget law, Renzi added: 'Half a billion from the packages, not even Stefano de Martino on Rai1 is so generous. The Tobin tax, from eliminating it, you have doubled it. From Baglioni to Mike Bongiorno, leave it or double it'.

"I then turn to the transformist minister," Renzi continued, addressing Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, "the golden power over Unicredit responds to the needs of the Northern League. 'I was shocked,' he concluded, 'by the lack of vision. It is a budget law that has thought a lot about the market and little about supermarkets. With you there are more taxes and less security. And you, Minister Giorgetti, are the emblem of this mediocre budget law."