The 2020 budget continues to
cause tension within Premier Giuseppe Conte's government ahead
of a crunch meeting of the heads of the parties supporting the
executive later on Monday.
The package, which features 30 billion euros a new measures
and averts a hike in value-added tax that was set to kick in
next year, was approved last week pending agreement on
some issues.
At the weekend Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said he was
confident a solution would be found but also warned there could
be no budget bill that is not backed by his 5-Star Movement
(M5S).
The M5S is calling for measures to make sure big tax evaders
go to prison and wants guarantees young self-employed people
with VAT accounts will not face tax rises.
Ex-premier Matteo Renzi, the leader of the new centrist
Italia Viva (IV) party, is reportedly out to stop plans for
higher taxes on sugary drinks.
Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora, an M5S bigwig, called on
Conte to mediate.
"Conte's capacity for mediation is what struck the Italian
people and it is fundamentally important that he does not stop
using this approach," Spadafora said.
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, a member of the
centre-left Democratic Party (PD), called on all sides to lower
the tone.
"When you discuss a budget there is always a debate among the
political parties," Franceschini said.
"The important thing is that this is done with good sense,
without fights between the parties in the ruling majority".
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