Govt calls confidence vote on budget amendment

(ANSA) - Rome, December 19 - Relations with Parliament Minister Maria Elena Boschi announced Friday that the government was putting a major package of amendments it is presenting to its 2015 budget bill to a confidence vote in the Senate. The announcement generated howls of protests from many opposition Senators, in part because the floor of thePupper House had to wait much longer than expected for Premier Matteo Renzi's executive to present its so-called maxiemendamento. Putting legislation to a confidence vote limits debate and speeds its passage through parliament, but it also carries a risk as the government will collapse if it loses the vote.
    The budget bill needs to be approved by the end of the year.
    The European Commission has delayed giving its verdict on the budget, which features 18 billion euros in tax cuts as part of a bid to revive the recession-hit Italian economy, until March, saying the plan risks breaking the EU's Stability and Growth Pact.
    The EC has said the budget does not do enough to start reducing Italy's massive debt of over two trillion euros, around 130% of GDP.
    On the other hand, two of Italy's big three trade union confederations, the CGIL and UIL, staged a massive general strike on December 12, in part to protest against the 15 billion euros in spending cuts in the bill.