We were “slaughtered” for trying to help not the rich, but those who earned “a reasonable amount.” But there’s no problem: we think we’re “right.” Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti defended the government’s choice and tried to brush off criticism leveled at the Irpef cuts to the middle class contained in the budget.
But this controversy was revived by Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, who recalled the owner of Mef: see Istat data. And he threw down a challenge to executives: make “wealth redistribution” the center of the debate.
A few days later, the echo of comments submitted by Istat, Bank of Italy, Upb and the Court of Auditors regarding the impact of the second Irpef rate cut has not yet subsided. The Minister, who immediately assured about protecting average income, again provided clarification.
“We need to understand what is meant by rich: if someone who earns 45 thousand gross, so about 2 thousand net, is rich, Istat, Bank of Italy and Upb have a slightly different concept of life…”, he said in a video interview at the Bergamo Città d’Impresa Festival. “Judging and evaluating the behavior of others is done quickly, but taking responsibility and making decisions in situations of war and instability is more complicated”, was the sharp reply.
And then we forget what was done. “In recent years we have intervened in the weakest classes”, by including 18 billion last year, which was reaffirmed again this year, supplemented by the stabilization of contributions; now let’s make a “further effort” by covering “also the income range of up to 50 thousand euros”: “this seems to me to be a reasonable logic in a period of several years”, underlines the minister, who does not hide a certain disappointment: I think that a calm and objective analysis “of the whole maneuver” could have given very different results”.
However, the climate remains warm. Also fueled by the opposition. “Istat has reported that this is an intervention that 85% will benefit the richest families in the range”, emphasized PD Secretary Schlein, recalling that the measure will give “30 euros more per year to those who earn 30 thousand euros but will give 440 more per year to those who earn 199 thousand, so again they help the richest”.
It is “the truth that lies in their choice”, underlined Schlein, who promised: “We will be the ones who want to bring a word fundamental for the left to the center of the debate, the redistribution of wealth, power and also time which has become a fundamental resource”.
ANSA Agency Schlein: ‘Wealth redistribution at the center of debate’ – News – Ansa.it ‘More and more gaps, we don’t accept it. We want to bring a fundamental word to the left’ (ANSA) “A panicked Giorgetti today tried to defend the indefensible by saying this is not a maneuver for rich people,” added the Avs’ Angelo Bonelli. “Meloni continues to divert attention while oppressing Italians with taxes à gogo on families, businesses and workers”, accused M5 vice president Mario Turco, who relaunched the idea of a “raider tax” on speculative financial operations. This government has succeeded in pitting “the last against the last”, commented five-star leader Giuseppe Conte.
Meanwhile, the maneuvers are preparing for a test of parliamentary changes, and the parties’ amendments are expected to be presented in the Senate on Friday. Giorgetti, who has opened up to short-term leases, dividends and credit offsets, also promised changes to hyper- and super-amortization for the business. “We will try to find a solution”, he announced: making it “multi-year – he said – would be a good thing”.
But for banks, Giorgetti still has one more blow: it is easier to earn income with “static management of deposits”, but they will have to return – he warns – to “concentrating on traditional credit activities”. Recalling Thursday’s Ecofin, which will cover the topic of energy, the MEF owner is prepared to “defend our good reasons regarding the taxation” of gas: otherwise, he warned, “this will be the tombstone for Italian industry from 2033 onwards”.
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