Premier Paolo Gentiloni on Monday
hailed the 2018 budget bill just approved by cabinet as a
"slender" package that did not contain "blood and tears".
Speaking at a press conference with Economy Minister Pier
Carlo Padoan after cabinet approved the 20-billion-euro package,
Gentiloni said the 2018 budget bill will "support the path of
growth and continue the financial stabilization of our country".
"A few months ago they said this budget would be blood and
tears," he said.
"Instead, I think we have a budget that is slender and useful
for our economy".
Gentiloni said that "our first goal was to avert VAT hikes or
the introduction of new taxes, duties or levies, a goal we
reached, a commitment that has been upheld".
Gentiloni said that "another goal remains promoting
employment, this budget bill contributes significantly with
measures aimed at young people, who together with the South have
suffered in a more evident way".
Gentiloni said that another goal "was to maintain a commitment
to renew, finally after almost 10 years, public-sector
contracts, a result that is certainly important and a response
to the requests advanced by trade union organisations for many
years."
The 2018 budget bill gives people the chance to retire
earlier on lower pensions, Gentiloni said, adding that there
were "measures for poverty, for families, and for the
peripheries".
Gentiloni said he "trusted" that parliament would swiftly
pass the 2018 budget bill just approved by the cabinet.
He said he was sure the bill "will find the convinced support
of the majority and the Houses of parliament".
Padoan hailed the the bill as a "turning point" in Italian
economic policy, with "limited but effective" moves that will
boost growth.
He said the budget bill represents a "turning point" towards
fostering "robust and inclusive growth."
The budget bill will give a "major tax break" on hirings of
under-34s in the first phase, Padoan said.
The 2018 budget bill will hire 1,500 university researchers,
feeding the "life blood" of Italian research, Padoan said,
adding that "we are starting to invest in the university again
after many years".
Finally, Padoan said, the budget bill contains no moves on
so-called 'superticket' prescription drugs surcharges.
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