A row rumbled on Friday between the two parties supporting the government, the League and the 5-Star Movement (M5S), over the executive's fiscal decree linked to the 2019 budget.
League leader, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he was "starting to get angry".
"I'll hear them all but I'm starting to get angry because at that cabinet meeting (Premier Giuseppe) Conte was reading and (M5S leader Luigi) Di Maio was writing". Salvini said Friday he "didn't give a damn" about tax amnesties amid the row over the decree, into which the M5S has accused the League of inserting an amnesty.
"The League was born to create jobs and cut taxes, not to let tax dodgers off," he said, adding that "the M5S should get over it and we'll restart." The German-Italian 10-year bond-yield spread's rise close to 350 because of the row with the M5S is "a problem," Salvini said.
"If the spread arrives at 350 because these people are quarrelling it's a problem," he said. "Tomorrow I'm going to Rome, serene, we'll rewrite and re-read everything, but I repeat that in that cabinet meeting Conte was reading and Di Maio was writing".
Salvini stressed, however, that he would travel to Rome Saturday to settle the row with the other deputy premier, M5S leader Di Maio, over the government's 'fiscal peace' tax-amnesty decree.
"Today I'm in Trentino but tomorrow I'll fly to Rome to solve the problems, enough of quarrels", he said.
Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, an M5S bigwig, said "Salvini and Di Maio will meet tomorrow and settle things".
But another M5S heavyweight, House Speaker Roberto Fico, said "there's going to be a problem if the amnesty stays in the decree, we're not the same as the League".
Fico went on: "if Salvini wants to talk to me, we'll have to talk about the contents of the decree" He also stressed that it was up to Premier Giuseppe Conte to call cabinet meetings.
Salvini said that if M5S had changed their minds on the amnesty, all they had to do was say so.
"We are reasonable people. If the Five Stars have changed their minds, just let them say so. If Fico and Di Maio have changed their minds, just say so, we are here," he said on the provincial election trail in Trentino.
"Let them say so and we'll sit down and go forward. Better on the phone than on TV", he said.
Salvini said it would be possible to "strip out" the parts of a fiscal peace decree that the M5S don't like.
"Anything can be done," he said on Italian TV.
"But people, when they read and approve something, should be convinced about what they read and approve.
"I'm here to solve problems, not create them".
He voiced "confidence" that a meeting with Di Maio Saturday would end the row.
Justice Minister and M5S bigwig Alfonso Bonafede said the M5S would not give in on its core values in the dispute.
"The M5S position on this is clear," he said.
"Without going into detail because I respect the cabinet which will meet tomorrow at which we will be able to talk (with ruling partner the League), there are issues in the history and values of the M5S that we cannot give ground on".
Centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) leader Maurizio Martina said the government, with its "squabbles over the amnesty is jeopardising Italians bank accounts." The government has repeatedly denied that the fiscal peace measure, which allows people with tax arrears up to 100,000 euros to clear their debt with the taxman, is an amnesty.
Salvini Thursday night said he would after all consider going to a cabinet meeting Saturday to ease tensions and clear up a case of last-minute "manipulation" alleged by the other deputy premier, Labour and Industry Minister Di Maio.
Salvini dismissed all talk of a crisis but insisted that "Di Maio knew everything about the amnesty. We don't lay traps, the decree is what it is".
On Thursday night Salvini had said "the decree won't change, everyone should assume their responsibilities", and had said he would not attend a cabinet meeting Saturday.
Di Maio said Wednesday that the decree had been sent to President Sergio Mattarella with a change to the part regarding the government's so-called 'fiscal peace' to help people terminate disputes, without the consent of the M5S.
Di Maio said he was going to present a petition to criminal prosecutors over "manipulation" of the legislation, expanding the scope of the disputes that could benefit from the fiscal peace - and reportedly in particular benefitting alleged money launderers, according to the Italian media.
Another source of contention was a measure on car insurance, which the League said had not been discussed but the M5S said contained "measures that were read and discussed".
As tensions subsequently mounted, the M5S leader said late Thursday "a political clarification is needed, either in a cabinet meeting or at a summit".
He said the spread had shot up to 327 points because "the markets think we are not united".
Salvini said there would not be another cabinet meeting on the measure.
Asked if he would attend a cabinet meeting on Saturday, Salvini said "I have other commitments".
Denying speculation there might be a crisis, Salvini said "this government will go on for five years".
Premier Conte said "its up to me to call a cabinet meeting".
"I'm the premier and I call cabinet meetings and I don't know if Salvini will come, he's on an election campaign".
The president's office had said earlier that the decree had not been delivered to it.
Premier Conte said that there was "no rift" between the two ruling parties.
Conte's office then said the passage of the decree to the president had been halted after the premier had been alerted to the problem.
"I'll be in Rome on Friday," said Conte, who was attending the European summit in Brussels. "I'l check it article by article and it will go to the president".
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