On Tuesday the government's approval of the Dpb on the knife's edge. Manoeuvre expected on 20 October: examination starts in the Chamber of Deputies

The calendar of appointments is tight. It passes, in a nutshell, through a photo-finish go-ahead by the government to the budget planning document and through the presentation of the manoeuvre after five days. This is the roadmap indicated by Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti. It starts with the Council of Ministers, expected for the evening of Tuesday 15 October - after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications to the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in view of the European Council - which will give the green light to the PDB. That will be the last step towards the budget law. In fact, the Programmatic Budget Document outlines the framework within which the next manoeuvre will take place. The green light to the document will go off on a knife-edge: it has to be sent by Tuesday to Brussels with the grids of the manoeuvre measures and their financial effects.

After that, it will be the turn of the budget bill proper, in essence the economic manoeuvre for next year. 'By 20 October,' explained the head of the Mef, 'we will be able to present' the manoeuvre, 'which this year will start in the Chamber'. Like every year, what used to be called the 'budget' will have to be approved by 31 December, otherwise the provisional exercise will be triggered. And it is precisely in December that the European Commission's 'report card' is expected. A particularly eagerly awaited judgement because this year the Structural Budget Plan (PSB) formally comes into action: the document commits the current and the next government for five years to a path of consolidation of public finances that envisages corrective measures for 12 billion per year and for seven years as regards reforms and investments.

The government is aiming at a restyling in order to overcome at the same time two orders of problems: the scalone that is created immediately above the current threshold of 35,000 euro and the long-term damage on the contributory amount highlighted by Bankitalia. According to the Sole 24 ore, the action would therefore be twofold. From next year, the cut could remain contributory for incomes up to 20,000 euros, and then turn into fiscal, with an increase in deductions for employment up to 35,000 euros. At that point a decalage would start, rather quickly, up to 40,000 euros. Finally, some clues also arrive on the pensions chapter. The idea is that of a refinement of the so-called Maroni bonus, with incentives for those who choose to stay at work even with the requirements for retirement. In this case, 'the state may agree to waive contributions or something else,' Giorgetti explained. In the budget law expected in the council of ministers as early as 20 October the Health Ministry will try to come up with a dowry of at least 2 billion.

That of resources is a complex and as yet unfinished sudoku. The goal is to mobilise a figure close to 25 billion. There are the 9 billion in deficit, the potential billion from the cut in tax expenditures and the similar one from the realignment of excise duties, in addition to the resources to be allocated to the Irpef reform. To find what is missing, more revenue and less expenditure are sought.

Sacrifices will be asked of the ministries. The aim is to find around three billion from this channel. Giorgetti has been clear: if his government colleagues do not present their own proposals to reduce the expenditure of each ministry, it will be the Minister of the Economy who will take on the role of 'bad guy', take responsibility, and proceed in the necessary direction. Now the ball is in the court of those concerned, who must find a solution within a short timeframe.