Budget measures won't change - Di Maio

(ANSA) - Rome, December 14 - Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio said Friday that key pledges in the budget plan for 2019 will not change as the government's seeks to reach an agreement with the European Commission on the deficit for next year. "It's emerging from the technical reports that money is left over, so less money will be spent, as more than necessary had been set aside," 5-Star Movement leader Di Maio said. "The budget is worth 30 to 33 billion euros (in new measures) and puts fresh money into the economy". Premier Giuseppe Conte's government has proposed running a deficit of 2.04% of GDP next year, compared to 2.4% in the initial plan, to stop the Commission opening an infringement procedure. The government's key pledges include the introduction of a citizenship wage basic income for job seekers and the 'quota 100' pension reform that would effectively bring down the retirement age by allowing people to start claiming a State pension when their age plus years of contributions add up to 100.