Italy must, under the new Stability Pact, reduce its enormous public debt. For this year, the fiscal deficit is estimated at 139% of GDP. Rome must reduce the deficit below 3% by 2026. Beyond the official declarations the cuts have already started, for example in the public education sector. And for this reason, the student unions have announced that they will organize protest demonstrations.

The newspaper La Repubblica writes that at least 10 billion euros should be collected from spending cuts and possible tax increases. For example, the Italian state-controlled defense and security industry Leonardo is said to be ready to discuss how it could help raise the necessary funds. In the last period its income increased significantly.

The price of diesel is rising

The Meloni government would like to request an emergency levy from the banks as well, but the Forza Italia party, led by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is strongly opposed. According to many analysts, it is certain that various extraordinary forms of support for citizens will be drastically reduced, as well as incentives and facilities concerning, for example, the construction sector. The difficult challenge for the Italian prime minister is to respect the commitments to Brussels, but without scaring the markets and citizens, who remember that one of her main pre-election promises was that she would never raise taxes.

As if all this were not enough, the Italian government is preparing to intervene in the price of diesel. “It is not a real increase, but an equalization of the price of petrol with that of diesel,” explained government sources. But they add that the real cause is European legislation, which considers diesel fuel more polluting and does not allow for tax exemptions. What interests citizens, however, is the final result, the price at gas stations. Truck owners and drivers are expressing strong dissatisfaction and are preparing, soon, mass mobilizations.