Italy’s Local Elections Raise Coalition Tensions, Risk Delaying Reforms – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s upcoming local elections are bound to fuel tensions between government parties with the risk of delaying key reforms needed to kickstart the recovery, ruling coalition officials warned. “The League, the Democrats and the 5 Stars are bickering on a daily basis in an attempt to boost their popularity […]
Italy to Push for a Stronger EU Defense; Afghan Crisis Will Have Repercussions – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy will push for a stronger, more coordinated European defense policy and the creation of ‘emergency’ intervention units to tackle geopolitical crises, according to ruling coalition sources. “The U.S.’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the way in which the entire NATO mission has failed to deliver a stable country, is […]
Italy Buys Time to Clear Ambitious Fiscal Reform, Resources Needed for Tax Cuts – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government is expected to clear after the summer break a series of tax cuts to support low earners and struggling firms but needs time to find resources, according to ruling coalition sources. “This is a key fiscal reform which we were hoping to approve before parliament shuts this […]
Draghi’s Government May Stumble Over Thorny Justice Reform; Ruling Coalition Stability at Risk – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Prime Minister Mario Draghi is facing his first major hurdle since rising to power as coalition differences over proposed justice reform risk destabilizing the ruling coalition, according to party sources. The reform is expected to land in parliament on Monday for initial debate and be followed by the government’s […]
Italy’s 5 Stars Movement Likely to Collapse; ‘Trump-Style’ Populism Over – Sources
By Silvia Marchettia ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s populist Five Star movement is likely heading towards an implosion to the benefit of the entire ruling coalition and the country’s future, according to other allied party sources. “They’re lost, without a leader and a clear way forward. Many members have ditched the group while others eye to […]
Italy To Push For ‘Permanent’ Pro-Growth Eurobonds, Common EU budget – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy will push for the creation of a ‘permanent’ European-wide debt tool scheme to support growth in a post-COVID world alongside a common EU budget, according to ruling coalition sources. “The eurobond issuance program adopted in the wake of the pandemic cannot be a one-off measure which will expire […]
Italy Pushes For Boosted NATO Strategy, Tougher Stance Towards Russia and China – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government is pushing for an enhanced new alliance between the European Union and NATO and is adopting a tougher stance towards Russia and China, said ruling coalitions sources. “We’ve made it clear from the start that a less ambiguous and soft approach is needed in Europe on thorny […]
Italy’s Layoff Freeze Soon to End But Government Eyes Job ‘Incentives’, Confident In Recovery – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s pandemic layoff freeze will be lifted at the end of June but the recovery underway and special government incentives will likely push firms to keep their employees and potentially hire more, said ruling coalition sources. “The layoff freeze has been a key measure which was adopted right after […]
Italy Govt To Extend Loans Freeze, State-Backed Guarantees – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government is expected to extend key pandemic state-backed guarantees for private investments and a loans payment moratorium by Friday, according to ruling coalition sources. Both measures, set-up in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis to help struggling firms’ and families access credit, are to due to expire in […]
Italy to Push for Overhaul of EU Fiscal Rules, Investments Exempted from Deficit – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome will push for a revision of tight European fiscal rules to take into account a post-COVID economy, allowing member states to run higher pro-growth deficits net of strategic investments without running into sanctions, according to Italian ruling coalition sources. “There’s growing consensus in Europe on the need to […]