Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said
Thursday that he did not intend to cause controversy in his
comments on bonuses, which were interpreted as a criticism of
the policies of ex-premier Matteo Renzi.
"I see that part of the speech I gave... has been inserted
into a political controversy that I'm not part of and I don't
intend to take part in," said Calenda, who was part of Renzi's
executive as well as the current cabinet of Premier Paolo
Gentiloni.
He also hailed the Industria 4.0 programme as "the most
important industrial plan passed in many years which was
designed, thought out and approved by the Renzi government".
Renzi's government introduced an 80-euro-a-month tax bonus
for low earners and a 500-euro bonus for 18-year-olds to spend
on culture.
"There are no shortcuts to create jobs and earnings, (with)
inventions regarding income, jobs and bonuses," Calenda said
during a ceremony at the presidential palace.
"It is not the government's job to spread optimism, nor the
opposition's to spread pessimism.
"We must be realistic. A plan based on realism, data and
complexity is needed".
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