The Council of Ministers has approved the 2024 budget law . "We did it in record time, in just over an hour, demonstrating the unity of views of the majority that supports the Government," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a press conference.
The maneuver, he explained, «is worth just under 24 billion, 16 from extra revenue and the rest from spending cuts. A maneuver that I consider very serious, very realistic, which does not waste resources and concentrates them on great priorities."
Giorgia Meloni admits that the period is complex, recalls that the increase in rates (13 billion) and the superbonus (20 billion) do more overall than the maneuver, and underlines: «We want to concentrate the few resources we have at our disposal on those who have more need."
The main measures contained in the draft .
The tax cut for 14 million workers has been confirmed, 7 points for those with up to 25 thousand euros, 6 up to 35 thousand. "An increase in the paycheck which on average corresponds to around 100 euros per month for an audience of around 14 million citizens", explained the Prime Minister.
Then there are 7 billion euros for contractual increases in the public administration, over 2 concern healthcare , the remainder are for other sectors.
There are two measures for families and to incentivize those who have children. From the second child onwards, nursery school is free . Furthermore, Meloni explained, the State will pay the contributions to mothers with multiple children : «Mothers with two children or more will not pay the contributions paid by the worker, the State pays that share. We want to establish that a woman who gives birth to at least two children has already made an important contribution to society and therefore the State partly compensates by paying social security contributions . We want to dismantle the narrative according to which the birth rate is a disincentive to work."
Pensions chapter. A 100% revaluation is expected up to 4 times the minimum, 90% between 4 and 5 times the minimum, then there is a decalage. The Social Ape and the women's option are skipped, as is the quota of 103 currently in force. A 104 quota appears for early retirement : «Not a full 104 quota – explains Giorgetti – there is an incentive mechanism to stay at work».
On the self-employed front, the flat tax is confirmed . Furthermore, added Meloni, "for the first time this year the self-employed will not have to pay the IRPEF advance in November but rather split it into 5 installments from January to June".
The Rai license fee, however, remains in the bill, but is reduced and goes from 90 to 70 euros .
Among the new features is a new Irpef with three rates . The brackets in 2024 are reduced from four to three, merging the first two with a single rate of 23%. The new rates for income brackets are determined as follows: up to 28,000 euros, 23%; over 28,000 euros and up to 50,000 euros, 35%; over 50,000 euros, 43% . Furthermore, the no tax area threshold for employee income is increased to 8,500 euros. A linear cut to the 260 euro deductions is also foreseen for those with "a total income exceeding 50 thousand euros".
A maxi-deduction is also coming for 2024 for those who hire on a permanent basis , with a privileged lane for certain categories, including young people admitted to youth employment incentives, women and former recipients of citizenship income.
There is also coverage for the Bridge over the Strait of Messina. The work is financed for 12 billion , "in the multi-year projection of the time necessary for completion", explains the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti . «Therefore, in the time horizon of the first three years the first three installments are financed, and upwards.
COMMENTS
An " insignificant and harmful " maneuver for Giuseppe Conte . «It does not provide anything against high living costs, high mortgages and high fuel prices. You don't put a euro in workers' paychecks, because you simply do the job of confirming a cut in the tax wedge that already exists. They attacked Fornero but Giorgetti declares that the use of early retirement will be much more restrictive. Nothing for schools and healthcare, which returns to investment levels compared to GDP lower than pre-pandemic."
A budget law " not up to par with the difficult situation the country is experiencing ", comments Elly Schlein . «Without strategic vision, without measures that give impetus to the economy and investments, just a few sops that will not improve the lives of Italians. Even less so those of the 3.5 million poor workers that the Meloni government has once again ignored by not addressing their wages, which remain among the lowest in Europe. On healthcare there aren't even the 7 billion that were needed to avoid reducing spending levels this year, which means cuts to services. And sufficient resources are not foreseen for essential services such as school and public transport."
(Unioneonline/L)
