“I agree with (Economy) Minister (Giancarlo) Giorgetti’s request to invite each ministry to check in detail the resources currently spent, the spending chapters, the measures currently financed.

“Waste and inefficiencies must be cut and the few resources we have must be spent in the best possible way, because this is a political government and governments are political if they choose and assume their responsibilities,” she said.

“What I am asking you is not a simple spending review or a list of items to cut, but to bring politics back as much as possible,” she told the ministers.

Meloni was only getting started, and told cabinet that the 110 per cent Superbonus for green home improvements had been the biggest scam ever against the state.

“We cannot afford waste, we are paying heavily for the disaster of the 110 per cent Superbonus, and I invite Giorgetti to show us the numbers of this accounting tragedy that weighs on the shoulders of all Italians.

“In all the building bonuses introduced by the Conte 2 government, including the facade bonus, the documents of the Agenzia dell’Entrate tell us there are more than 12 billion irregularities.

“So much for those who accuse the centre-right of being ‘friends’ of evaders and fraudsters.

“Thanks to badly written rules, the biggest fraud against the State has been allowed,” the prime minister said.

Meloni, meanwhile, also told cabinet that the government was acting in the right direction on a migrant crisis that has seen arrivals more than doubles this year compared to last, and mayors suffering intolerable strain as reception facilities buckle.

Meloni says that data shows there has been a slowdown in the increase of migration flows, and ‘the direction taken by the government is the right one’. (Photo: ANSA)

“Italy is undergoing migratory pressure such as we have not seen in many years, also as a result of the events, recent and not so recent, in the Sahel, with huge numbers of arrivals.

“It is difficult to explain to the public what they are witnessing and I understand this.

“The data says that there is a strong increase compared to the previous year even if, reading these numbers carefully, there is a slowdown in the increase of migration flows,” the PM said.

“The direction taken by the government is the right one.”

The 2024 budget bill, meanwhile, will show the utmost attention to resources and prove that the government is keeping its feet on the ground, according to Meloni.

“So far we have outperformed Germany and France, the markets have rewarded our choices, the spread is low, employment figures are excellent, GDP in the first half of the year surprised everyone, and the trend in tax revenues is positive. But we must keep our feet firmly on the ground,” she said.

“All observers say that the economy is becoming more difficult, starting with the slowdown in the German economy, which is having repercussions throughout the EU and on our industrial fabric.

“So the available resources must be used with the utmost care,” the PM said.

Meloni announced that the government would also forge a “serious (2024) budget to boost growth”.

She said Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti “will take stock and outline the overall framework within which we will move”.

“I intend to limit myself to some reflections and indications.

“The next budget bill will have to be, as last year's was, serious, to support growth, help the weaker segments of society, give impetus to those who produce, and put money in the pockets of families and businesses.”

ANSA