She said the focus of the budget would be on helping families and low earners and boosting health care.
Meloni added that the coming year would be one of “great reforms” and of the government’s “Mattei plan” - a project named after Enrico Mattei, the founder of oil company Eni, focusing on cooperation on energy with African countries and on curbing irregular migration.
The PM admitted that the economic situation was “difficult” while stressing that Italy’s GDP growth level is forecast to remain “above the European average” and hailing “record figures” on employment.
She also blasted the opposition for criticising the government over the 0.4 per cent drop in GDP registered in the second quarter of this year with respect to the first.
“It makes me quite angry to see them celebrate every slightest difficulty Italy has,” she said.
“In the last quarter our GDP contracted slightly, and they cheered like a goal in in the World Cup final.
“People were cheering against Italy, uncorking bottles and cheering from their balconies at a drop in GDP.”
She also reiterated her defence of the windfall tax the government has imposed on banks after the ECB’s interest-rate hikes led to higher profits.
“They even objected to the taxation of the banks’ surplus profits,” Meloni said.
“Do you know why? Because they did not have the courage that we did.
“But I defend that measure, which has no intent to punish.
“It is a just regulation.”
ANSA
