The request of five Italian deputies to benefit from a "Covid Bonus" of 600 euros per month, instituted in theory for people in great financial difficulty, aroused a heated controversy in Italy on Monday and an outcry within its political class.
Parliamentary indiscretions, revealed on Sunday by the daily La Repubblica and then taken up again this Monday by the Italian press, point to five anonymous "thief" deputies, who would come from the ranks of the League (far right), the Five Star Movement (in power ) and the Italia Viva party (dissident party of the Democratic Party).
Help that wasn't really intended for them
The newspapers also claim that some 2,000 other politicians, including mayors and municipal or regional councilors, have also made the request.
This aid, provided for without income limit in two government decrees, was in the amount of 600 euros for the months of March and April, then 1,000 euros for the month of May. It targets, for example, activities subject to VAT, self-employed workers, seasonal workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's shameful, really indecent"
Checks on applicants made by a government anti-fraud body concluded that five deputies had received a bonus of 600 euros, according to the Italian press. A total of 6.9 billion euros of “Covid Bonus” were distributed to Italians during these three months.
"It's shameful, really indecent," responded Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio (Five Star Movement) on social networks. "They must apologize to the Italians, restore aid and resign," he said, like the president of the Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico, of the same formation.
13,000 euros net monthly average for a deputy
"Whoever they are, they must be suspended immediately," said the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini, also establishing himself as a defender of morality in politics, the Agi news agency reported. The Italia Viva party assured for its part that none of its deputies had asked for such a bonus.
Italian deputies receive nearly 13,000 euros net monthly, between compensation (more than 5,000 euros), reimbursement of expenses and employment of employees. No deputy concerned has come forward publicly, but a city councilor from Milan (north) denounced herself on social networks, explaining "not to live from politics" and to be an independent worker.
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