Xmas decree for basic income, pension reform - Di Maio

(ANSA) - Rome, November 2 - The government's flagship policies of a basic income for job seekers and the poor and a pension reform overhaul allowing people who have combined ages and years of contributions of 100 to retire earlier for less will be put into a decree at Christmas, Deputy Premier and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said Friday. "The basic income, citizenship pension and 'level 100' are in the budget and anyone who says the contrary is lying," he said after reports the key campaign pledges had been removed from the 2019 budget bill.
    "There's the beef in the budget, there's the money", he said, while explaining that enacting decrees will be issued "at Christmas or immediately afterwards".
    Cabinet Secretary Giancarlo Giorgetti, a bigwig in the M5S's government partner the League, says in journalist Bruno Vespa's new book, excerpts of which were released Friday, that there would be "complications with the implementation" of the basic income. Di Maio also said there would be more cash for schools thanks to cuts in oil industry tax breaks.
    He also said there would be an amendment cutting funds to the media.
    The industry and labour minister also said a cut to so-called golden pensions would be included in the budget.
    The 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader also said there would "soon" be a measure cutting MPs' pay.
    He also said there would be a cabinet meeting in Campania's so-called 'Land of Fires' to pass measures to stop the burning of toxic waste there.