Italy: the first budget of the Meloni government adopted after a vote of confidence

The Chamber of Deputies in Italy (Illustrative Image).

REUTERS/Max Rossi

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The right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni, from the post-fascist party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), adopted Friday evening December 23 by a vote of confidence its first finance law in the Chamber of Deputies.

The text will have to be definitively approved by the Senate before the evening of December 31.

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With our correspondent in Rome

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The bill received 221 votes for, 152 against, and 4 abstentions.

The finance law was subject to adjustments until it was voted on by the Chamber of Deputies.

This illustrates the difficulties of the government of Giorgia Meloni to find a balance between realizable promises and those which are not.

For example, he had to abandon a measure promoting the use of cash to the detriment of electronic payments to avoid tensions with Brussels.

More than half of the 35 billion euros of the 2023 budget - more than 21 billion euros - will be devoted to aid for businesses and low-income households to cope with the increase in energy bills.

Reduction of citizenship income

Among the main novelties, we note the reduction of citizenship income.

This allowance will only be paid to beneficiaries for a period of 7 months and under strict conditions, such as the obligation for 18-29 year olds to participate in training courses.

On the other hand, the minimum pension goes from 525 to 600 euros per month.

This increase is insufficient for the opposition, which overall considers the text of the law very mediocre.

►Also read: Italy: the government of Giorgia Meloni presents its first budget for the year 2023

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• Italy

• Giorgia Meloni