Centrist Italia Viva (IV) leader
Matteo Renzi on Friday slammed the government's allegedly
insufficient planned cut to the labour tax wedge in the 2020
budget bill.
The former centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader and
ex-premier said: "I gave 80 euros a month for six years (in a
low-income wage boost) and they said it was just a tip.
"Now they're just putting two billion into the tax wedge
(cut), and they can't really say it's the revolution of the
proletariat".
Renzi, who split from the PD to form IV last month, has been
calling for a bigger tax-wedge cut to hopefully boost the
economy.
While he was in government the former PD leader frequently
complained about sniping from his own side.
The 5-Star-PD government has not been able to divert enough
funds from avoiding a VAT hike to fund the tax wedge move.
Premier Giuseppe Conte retorted to Renzi: "Everyone must take
part in the government's action with the utmost commitment and
determination. WE don't need phenomenons. If someone wants to go
on TV let him go, but then he should sit down at the table. When
you sit down, the force or your arguments is what counts".
"We're talking about workers who need to have purchasing
power, If for Renzi, who has a big salary, 20-30 euros is too
little, OK...He gave a lot more, he used public resources, but
we have a very delicate picture of finances".
IV bigwig Ettore Rosato told ANSA in response: "We're not the
phenomenons, but your previous allies" referring to the
nationalist League party.
Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and Foreign
Minister Luigi Di Maio said ""we don't need fights.
"Let's lower the volume and all get to work", he said.
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