Premier Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday
admitted that "it won't be an easy feat" for his government to
stop value-added tax rising.
Italy's VAT is set to increase at the start of next year when
so-called budget 'safeguard clauses' will kick in unless
alternative sources of financial coverage can be found.
"We are working on a profound spending review and we are
boosting our system to combat tax evasion," the premier told the
Rete Imprese Italia business network.
Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini,
meanwhile, told the same event that "I refuse to increase VAT,
even by just one cent.
"First it's necessary to reform the tax system," the League
leader added.
"It's necessary to be brave. I won't give up".
Conte stressed later that he was not suggesting the
government had given up on trying to stop the VAT hike.
"I have never thrown into doubt the fact that we will avert
the VAT rise," he said.
"I explained that we have a spending review that we are
working on.
"I simply said we are working on it. There is no doubt about
avoiding the VAT rise".
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