Govt more courageous than Left on banks says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 15 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday that her government has shown "more courage than the left had when it was in government" when it comes to making the nation's banks pay their fair share.
    She was responding to a question from Italian Left leader Nicola Fratoianni as she reported to parliament ahead of this week's EU summit.
    Italy's banks will "contribute" some three-four billion euros to the 2025 budget, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said earlier on Tuesday, while reiterating that "there won't be any new taxes" in the package to be discussed at cabinet Tuesday night.
    Tajani, who is leader of the centre-right post Berlusconi Forza Italia (FI) party, has set his face against a tax on the surplus profits of banks, which has instead been championed by his fellow deputy premier, Transport Minister and rightwing League party leader Matteo Salvini.
    Salvini has said "the banks must pay, not the taxpayers" (ANSA).