Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday
that she does not think taxes are "beautiful" and, therefore,
her government will make sure public money is spent wisely.
"I don't think, and I will never say, that taxes are a beautiful
thing," Meloni told a conference on taxation at the Lower House.
"Donations are beautiful, not levies imposed by law.
"That's why great responsibility comes with managing these
resources.
"They must not be used irresponsibly to obtain easy, immediate
popularity and leave it to those who come after (in government)
to pay for that irresponsibility".
Her comment was an inverse echo of a remark made by late former
economy minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, who caused a furore in
2007 by saying that paying taxes was "beautiful" as it was a
civilized way to contribute to society's collective needs.
Meloni also defended the measures the government has passed to
make it easier for people involved in tax disputes to settle
with the authorities, as part of a drive for a less
confrontation relationship between taxpayers and the inland
revenue.
She denied that this would help tax evaders.
"The message we want to give is very simple," she said.
"We have no friends that we have to do favours for, apart from
the honest Italians who pay their taxes and contribute to the
public budget, even when they are unable to pay, but want to do
so.
"There is no tolerance for those trying to be crafty, but people
who are honest and in difficulty deserve to be helped.
"The tax reform aims to create a new idea of Italy closer to the
needs of taxpayers and companies.
"They have accused us of wanting to help tax evaders, of
loosening the fiscal mesh, of hiding imaginary amnesties.
"We answer with numbers, as 2023 was a record year for the fight
against tax evasion, with 24.7 billion euros recovered for the
State, 4.5 billion more than the previous year."
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