House, Senate approve government's DEF

(ANSA) - Rome, April 23 - The Senate and the Lower House on Thursday approved a majority resolution on the government's economic and financial blueprint for the nation, or DEF.
    The resolution approved a government move to freeze some budget allocations until the autumn, when it expects an extra 1.6 billion euros to be freed up.
    This will guarantee it is able to cover its plans for the 1.6-billion-euro bonus, which Premier Matteo Renzi has said should be devoted to welfare spending.
    The resolution also says the government won't cut "social welfare and services" in the name of deficit reduction, and that any revision of its tax cuts won't impact "the protection of employee, freelance, small-business, and pensions income".
    As well, the resolution calls on the executive to review its tax incentives for companies that take on new hires after 2015, and to give a "definitive revision" to real estate and farm taxes.