The Italian Senate is in a race
against time to approve the 2023 budget bill by the end of the
year.
The 35-billion-euro package, which includes 21 billion euros of
measures to cushion the impact of the energy crisis, is set to
hit the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be
approved by Wednesday evening.
Some political parties are still eyeing major changes with the
centre-right Forza Italia party seeking to raise minimum
pensions to 1,000 euros a month and the 5-Star Movement battling
to save some of its flagship 'citizenship wage' basic income
anti-poverty and job seekers benefit, which is set to be phased
out.
The budget cuts income tax for people earning up to 35,000 euros
by two percentage points and for those on under 20,000 by three
points.
It also raises the maximum threshold of the 15% flat tax for
the self-employed for those on up to 65,000 euros a year to
85,000 and makes it easier for people to retire early.
It brings in the 'Quota 103' system which makes it possible for
people to start claiming their State pension at the age of 62 if
they have 41 years of social-security contributions.
It was amended last week to remove a controversial measure that
would have enabled retailers to refuse card payments for amounts
up to 60 euros.
Opposition parties criticized the move, saying it would have
made tax evasion easier, and the European Commission also found
fault with it.
The amendment means shops, cafes and bars will not have the
right to refuse cards and demand cash, even for the payment of
small things such as a coffee. Indeed, they face fines if they
do so.
The budget also abolishes the 'citizenship-wage' minimum-income
benefit for people considered fit for work from the end of next
year.
An amendment brought down the maximum number of months the 'fit
for work' can claim the benefit in 2023 from eight months to
seven.
A bid by leftwing and Green parties to scrub a cities-wide boar
cull from the 2023 budget bill was defeated Thursday.
The relevant amendment, which also envisages people eating the
animals they put down, was passed.
Separately, regional authorities said they would set up special
courses to train the boar hunters how to shoot or, in some
cases, trap the boar.
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