VAT won't increase say Di Maio, Salvini

(ANSA) - Rome, December 20 - Deputy Premiers Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini both ruled out the possibility of big hikes in value added tax in the short or medium term on Thursday. Concerns about possible hikes are linked to budget 'safeguard clauses' setting VAT increases for 23 billion euros in 2020 and 28.75 billion in 2021 and 2022 if alternative financial coverage is not found, following an agreement between the government and the European Commission over Italy's new budget law. "There won't be a VAT increase this year and there won't be one in the coming years either," Labour and Industry Minister and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Di Maio told Radio Capital.
    "Just like we halved the (safeguard) clauses for this year, we'll halve them for the coming years too". Interior Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini echoed those assertions.
    "We didn't increase VAT this year and we won't increase it in the coming years," he said during a visit to a Milan hospital.