The Italian government is studying
more moves to help households and businesses with spiralling
energy hikes amid a Russian gas squeeze and as political parties
clamour for rapid action.
The measures are being considered as gas and electricity prices
in Italy continue to rise and Mario Draghi's government is also
raising efforts to secure an EU-wide gas price cap.
Gas prices in Amsterdam were just below 300 euros per MWh Monday
while electrical power prices in Italy rose above 740 euros per
MWh Monday.
The government has begun an initial round of consultations aimed
at raking in the funds to be used for fresh aid to households
and businesses, sources said Monday.
It will be hard, they said, because the government has already
made a heavy intervention of over 14 billion euros with its
second aid package for the energy crisis last month.
And government sources have ruled out a budget adjustment to get
the necessary funds.
Meanwhile Matteo Salvini's rightwing League party called for an
"armistice" during the September 25 general election campaign to
frame new moves on rocketing electricity and gas prices.
Centrist 'third pole' leader Carlo Calenda has already called
for an electoral "pax" to help Draghi to get the necessary funds
for fresh aid.
"We need an electoral armistice, without stopping the election
campaign," Salvini said on the stump in Calabria.
He said a zoom call would be enough to "find a common solution".
Salvini said Italy should emulate France and put a 4% cap on
power bill hikes.
"We have quantified at 30 billion euros an urgent and necessary
intervention to stop the electricity and gas bill hikes now
without triggering European sanctions", Salvini said.
He said his allies, far right Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader
Giorgia Meloni and centre right three-time ex-premier and media
mogul Silvio Berlusconi, would "certainly agree" with the move.
Azione (Action) party Calenda reacted by saying "Just as well,
at least one (leader) has arrived".
Populist and left-leaning 5-Star Movement leader and ex-premier
Giuseppe Conte has long been calling for inter-party talks on
the energy squeeze, M5S sources said.
Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Enrico Letta said
Draghi's measures "should be the most determined and prompt both
at a national and a European level".
Former central banker Draghi has secured a pledge from the EU to
discuss a gas price cap next month.
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