(see related story on budget).
Economy Minister Giovanni Tria
on Tuesday dismissed reports that he might scale back the
government's growth forecast for next year from 1.5% to 1.2% as
part of negotiations with the European Commission about Italy's
budget plan.
"You don't negotiate the growth rate," Tria said in an
economy ministry statement.
"I deny rumours and leaks in the newspapers, according to
which, Italy's growth rate was, or is, the subject of political
debate.
"The growth forecasts are the result of an exclusively
technical evaluation".
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