The House gives the green light to the budget law. The second maneuver of the Meloni government is law with 200 yes votes, 112 no votes and three abstentions. Twenty-eight billion with the three cornerstones immediately indicated by the government of cutting the wedge, the Irpef reform and aid for families. «A positive signal for an important maneuver, which puts families, work and businesses at the centre», comments Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

An armored maneuver that underwent few changes in the passage to the Senate, the only one that saw - as has happened for years now - a more in-depth examination. Among the most substantial ones are the stop to the crackdown on doctors' pensions and the specification on the dry tax on short-term rentals which remains at 21% for one of the rented houses but also the remodulation of the resources for the Strait Bridge which also draw from the Cohesion Fund .

An almost formal passage, however, that of Montecitorio. After a quick examination in the Budget Committee, it landed in the Chamber with the green light without confidence, as per the agreements between the groups.

Before the final green light, especially during the explanations of vote, the toughest clash between the majority and the opposition took place.

«A maneuver of cuts and taxes that would be the envy of the worst technical governments», the M5s leader Giuseppe Conte. «A maneuver with which Meloni, Salvini and Tajani continue the season of cuts to the detriment of pensioners». «The maneuver is the result of your identity-based disinterest in the weakest groups», accuses the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein who recalls the only measure on which the opposition have bet with their share of the treasure: «We had to think about it - she says Schlein - to make 40 million available to combat gender violence. We asked you to pool your resources and instead you preferred your tips."

Below are some of the main points of the 2024 budget.

ELECTRICITY BONUS - Extension of the electricity social bonus also for the months of January, February and March 2024. The expenditure coverage is 200 million, which will be transferred to the Energy and Environmental Services Fund.

DEAR SPENDING - Against the inflation of basic necessities, the provision provides new resources for the 'Dedicated to you' card for those with an ISEE equal to or less than 15 thousand euros. The Fund is refinanced in 2024 with 600 million euros. Furthermore, "in consideration of the continuing conditions of social and economic hardship", the Fund for the distribution of food to poor people is increased by 50 million euros.

BRIDGE OVER THE STRAIT – The budget for the construction of the stable connection between Calabria and Sicily is 11.6 billion euros. The figure is multi-year and covers the period between 2024 and 2032. Of these resources, 9.3 billion will come from the public budget, while 2.3 billion from the Development and Cohesion Fund: 1.6 billion from the allocations initially foreseen for Sicily and Calabria and 718 million from the ministries.

INSURANCE AGAINST DISASTERS - Companies are required to stipulate, by 31 December 2024, insurance contracts to cover damage to properties directly caused by natural disasters and catastrophes on national territory, such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, of bradyseism, landslides, floods and overflows. Any overdraft or deductible in contracts for "fulfillment of the insurance obligation" cannot exceed 15% of the damage. Refusal or evasion of the obligation to contract insurance is punished with a fine of between 200 thousand and one million euros, imposed through Ivass.

SEISMIC VULNERABILITY OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS - A Fund for the financing of a 'Structural mitigation program for the seismic vulnerability of public buildings' is established at the Mef, to then be transferred to the autonomous budget of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with a total allocation of 285 million, of which 45 for 2024, then 60 million for each of the years 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.

SUPPORT FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SMEs - Ismea is authorized to provide promissory note loans in favor of agricultural SMEs in the fruit and vegetable sector for a maximum of 50% of the amount of revenues recorded in 2022 by the applicant company and, in any case, not exceeding 30 thousand euros , with repayment starting 24 months after the date of disbursement and lasting up to 5 years.

AGRICULTURE EMERGENCIES - For market crisis situations in the agricultural, agri-food, livestock and fishing sectors generated by unforeseeable events, an emergency management fund has been established at Masaf aimed at supporting the investments of companies operating in these sectors , with a total budget of 270 million euros, divided into 90 million for each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026.

GREEN GUARANTEES - Sace is authorized to issue, until 31 December 2029, guarantees connected to investments in the sectors of infrastructure, including of a social nature, local public services, industry and the transition processes towards a clean and circular economy and sustainable mobility, adaptation to climate change and the mitigation of its effects, sustainability and environmental or climate resilience and industrial, technological and digital innovation of companies. The draft budget law provides for this. The guarantees are granted for a maximum duration of 25 years and for a maximum coverage percentage not exceeding 70 percent, or 60 percent, where issued in relation to sureties, guarantees and other signature commitments, which the companies are required to to lend for the execution of public contracts and the disbursement of contractual advances in accordance with the relevant sector legislation, or 50 percent in the case of subordinate exposures.

(Unioneonline/D)

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