Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and
League leader Matteo Salvini told an ANSA Forum Monday that he
had "absolute" confidence in Premier Giuseppe Conte.
He was commenting after Cabinet Secretary and fellow League
member Giancarlo Giorgetti called into question whether Conte
was impartial.
"I argued with him about the TAV (Turin-Lyon high-speed rail
line) but if I didn't have confidence in the government I
wouldn't be here," he said, referring to a bone of contention.
Salvini told the forum Monday that he carried forward key
government decrees and didn't listen to the "background noise"
they attract.
"No one likes rows," he said.
"I shut my mouth and ears and look ahead, I don't listen to
background noise and I try to carry forward the decrees," he
said, voicing the hope that "from Monday (after the European
election results) everyone will return to dealing with their
sphere of competence".
League leader Salvini was referring to a spate of recent rows
with government partner the 5-Star Movement (M5S).
Salvini also said that he wants the government to adopt tax
reforms like those passed by United States President Donald
Trump.
"The only way to reduce the (public) debt is by growing and
cutting taxes," League leader Salvini told the forum ahead of
this week's European elections.
"That's what a Trump-like revolution is dear to my heart.
"I won't compromise on taxes. The whole government team
should believe in this".
He added that he is committed to averting a safeguard clause
that would see value-added tax rise at the start of 2020 unless
alternative budget funding can be found.
"If anyone out there wants to increase VAT, they'll have do
it without the League in the government".
He also said that the future of the government will depend on
whether it respects a pledge to introduce a two-tier 'flat tax'
on income.
"This is the frontier that will influence how far the
government goes," he told the Forum.
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