Premier Matteo Renzi has
embarrassed his government with the sudden reversal of a major
tax law reform considered to be faulty, a critic within Renzi's
own Democratic Party (PD) said Monday.
Stefano Fassina spoke following the surprise announcement
by Renzi on Sunday that his tax reforms would be reconsidered by
cabinet in light of concerns that the changes could be used to
annul the August 2013 tax-fraud conviction of ex-premier Silvio
Berlusconi.
In a newspaper interview, Fassina said that the reforms
were "chilling" and Renzi had "forced his hand" by pushing them
through cabinet just before Christmas.
On Sunday, Renzi said the tax-reform measures, which
include change to how tax crimes are punished, would be reviewed
before going to parliament.
Renzi said in a television interview that he wanted to
avoid any perception of a "backroom deal" to benefit Berlusconi,
whose Forza Italia party is helping Renzi with electoral
reforms.
Fassina said the tax-reform measures were rushed by Renzi
and were not supported by Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan.
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