The Council of Ministers approved the 2027 budget, the last budget bill of the legislature before the general elections. It is worth approximately €26 billion overall .

"We worked with great serenity, common sense, and unity, focusing only on what was best for the citizens," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said at the press conference following the cabinet meeting.

"With this budget law, we confirm all the measures included in the previous budget, which would have ended at the end of this year. This package of measures alone is worth approximately €9 billion," the prime minister announced.

"This maneuver is part of a medium- and long-term strategy, has a legislative logic, and is part of a multi-year process," Meloni stated, adding that she was "very satisfied with the consistency and linearity demonstrated along this path." "We haven't given resources indiscriminately or made promises we couldn't keep," she insisted.

The car tax cut becomes a structural measure . It affects small and medium-powered vehicles, up to 80 kilowatts, and motorcycles . "We're talking about 70% of vehicles on the road. Many had tried to downplay this measure by calling it an electoral bribe, especially since it only applies until 2027. They'll be proven wrong; it's structural and permanent." As for cars, the option to create personalized license plates is also being introduced.

Among the new measures is a reduction in personal income tax for the middle class, raising the second bracket of the 33% tax rate from €50,000 to €55,000 per year . "The maximum benefit is €500 per year. Some might say that's still too little: we would have liked to do more, but it needs to be considered in light of the cuts made previously."

Still on the subject of Irpef taxation, the Government is also intervening on the flat-rate regime for self-employed workers, with the flat tax being extended from 85 to 100 thousand euros .

There is also a social security fund for newborns, with a contribution of 100 euros per year from the State until they reach the age of 18 .

Rent. The flat-rate tax is extended to shop rents. The flat-rate tax on agreed-upon rents drops to 5%, and to 1% on agreed-upon rents for those under 35 .

Funds have been allocated for healthcare, not the €6.8 billion requested by the center-left-led regions. The National Health Fund will be increased by €3.4 billion, reaching €146.3 billion by 2027 : "A portion of this increase will be tied to raising the salaries of emergency room doctors, who are the front line and where citizens gauge the public health system's response every day."

Furthermore, air conditioning in all schools : "We have decided to use part of NEC Energia's resources to equip all schools with air conditioning and heat pumps and make our classrooms more livable. If resources had been invested in this in the past and not in desks on wheels, it would have been better." NEC resources will also be used to improve energy efficiency in schools and hospitals.

Regarding energy, the energy release for energy-intensive businesses has been confirmed, while another dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises only, funded with one billion euros, has been introduced.

The bill decree, however, has been halted. The measure was not discussed at today's cabinet meeting, where it was expected. It would include a cap on gas prices for twelve months to contain energy costs .

As for coverage, "around 5 billion and more come from banks and insurance companies with the increase in the Tobin Tax."

The budget now passes to Parliament: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have until December 31st to approve it definitively and amend it with amendments.

(Unioneonline/L)

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