Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – The government has passed the budget law test unscathed. A test that, in the words of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was based on "teamwork," but also "calm," at least in its final rush to the Council of Ministers. This is demonstrated, however, not only by the Prime Minister's statements at the press conference, but also by all the key players in the budget, starting with Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini.
Sitting next to her in the small hall of Palazzo Chigi, along with Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, there are those who, like the Forza Italia secretary, can call for a tax cut for the middle class and the exclusion of local banks from the contribution, and those who, like the re-crowned leader of the League, can call for an extension of the flat tax for self-employed workers with revenues up to 100 euros and flexibility for pensions.
In short, everyone is happy and united, despite the awareness that more can always be done, but above all, the limited margins due to the difficult times we are experiencing.
Meloni also hopes for this cohesion on the Ukraine issue. Aside from peace, desired by everyone within the government, the prime minister believes the key to achieving it is to continue supporting Kiev, as has also been done in this Cabinet meeting, where "among the thousand measures we approved," she says, "there's also the extension of the state of emergency that allows us to send and sustain aid to Ukraine."
"I don't foresee that synthesis changing," Meloni is certain, then goes on record to express her confidence that "the government, which has taken a clear position on this, can move forward." "Without prejudice to the fact that I have great respect and concern for what is a very important party in the coalition," she says, "I think that Lega Secretary Salvini has every right and also the duty to express the sentiment and mood of his base," the resident of Palazzo Chigi continues.
But in the meantime, the budget. Which, Meloni also knows, "doesn't solve everything, it doesn't pretend to, but it certainly has a clear direction, as this government always has: jobs, family, young people, housing, health, healthcare, and energy cost cuts." After all, the direction taken, the Prime Minister notes, appeals especially to Italian savers because "it can demonstrate the trust citizens place in the seriousness, responsibility, and ability of this government." And yes, "there's still a lot to do, we're the first to be aware of that, but we intend to move forward with the same determination we've had since day one," especially if those same citizens continue to place their trust in her. Having reached the fifth budget, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party is aware that it doesn't depend on her whether there will be a sixth, a seventh, and so on, "but it will depend on the Italians."
And so it brings home €26 billion, €5 billion of which comes from banks and insurance companies, €700,000 from energy companies and the gaming sector, and about €1 billion from cuts to ministries. "This isn't a move against anyone," Meloni emphasizes, adding: "I understand the position of the credit and financial institutions, but I hope they understand the government's position." And therefore: "I hope we try to work together to lend a helping hand" to those families, businesses, the middle class, the elderly, and especially young people who are the primary beneficiaries of the budget law.
Here, regarding young people, the prime minister wants to provide answers to those "who want to demonstrate their talent, who want to study, who want to work, who want to be able to rent a house in a country that too often forgets about them in practice, only to then perhaps exploit them when necessary for political purposes," certainly not to those who want to break shop windows.
And she doesn't backtrack on the words she said in a social media video following the "release" of Youssef Siher, administrator of the Telegram channel "Movimento 17 Ottobre," which she had called shameful. "I've seen the responses that have come from the National Association of Magistrates. I'll say one simple thing: I don't see what I said as an attack, I see it as a defense. As a defense of the work I know from all the public servants, who worked with enormous dedication to prevent a repeat of what we saw on October 17th. And it didn't happen again, and I'm sorry that that work is being wasted," Meloni says. "I think that frankly, 'discomposto' is something else entirely... We want to defend decent people from violence, devastation, destruction, from what we saw. This is what I said and what I reiterate," she adds.
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