Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan
said Friday that Premier Matteo Renzi's government was committed
to more tax cuts, while stressing that these could only be
introduced when the state of the public finances allow.
"There is a general framework of compatibility that must
be defended because it's good for Italy," Padoan told Radio
Anch'io when asked about speculation over possible reductions in
income tax Irpef.
"Cutting taxes is one of the cornerstones of government
policy. The timeframe is well known, there's no need to rush".
The government is expected to try to cut Irpef before the
end of the current parliamentary term in 2018.
The government argues it has done more than any other in
modern Italian history to cut taxes, with moves including a
reduction in labour taxes, the introduction of an
80-euro-a-month tax bonus for low earners and the abolition of
the TASI property tax for people's first homes.
Padoan also said Friday that "there is space to consider
improvements in the pension system".
He stressed, however, that Italy's pension system was
"among the most sustainable and solid in Europe".
Earlier this week Premier Matteo Renzi announced that the
government will introduce a new programme, APE, in the 2017
budget law to give options for people who are close to
retirement age to be able quit work, if they accept a lower
monthly pension.
There have been repeated calls from trade unions and
pensions and social security agency INPS to make the system more
flexibility and help people penalised by recent increases on the
retirement age.
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