A furore over reports that
Premier Matteo Renzi's government intends to cut State pensions
that have been transferred to a spouse following the death of
the holder continued on Monday even though the executive denied
there was any truth in the speculation.
"The row over transferred pensions is totally
groundless," said Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti of the
question that was raised by Northern League leader Matteo
Salvini at the weekend regarding a proposed government enabling
law.
"Obviously some people try to get easy visibility and
invent a problem that does not exist.
"The government's enabling law bill explicitly leaves in
tact all current positions.
"There are no interventions on transferred State pensions
under consideration. All the enabling bill proposes is that
overlaps and anomalous situations be overcome".
Opposition politicians, however, were not satisfied, amid
speculation such pensions will be linked to a person's score on
the ISEE means test.
Maurizio Gasparri, a Senator for ex-premier Silvio
Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI), linked the issue to
a bill regulating civil unions, which will extend some rights
currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples to gay
couples.
"It incredible that the government is considering cutting
pensions transferred to widows and widowers while at the same
time extending them to gay couples," Gasparri said.
"Renzi must explain to us the reasons for this shameful
act of social injustice that will hit the weakest people".
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) also blasted
Renzi's administration.
"This is how the government intends to combat poverty, by
cashing on on transferred pensions and once again attacking
pension rights," the M5S said.
"We will combat this unacceptable design with all our
strength".
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