A crucial meeting took place at Palazzo Chigi, lasting over five hours, between the Italian government and the unions regarding the budget law. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni led the meeting, at the end of which the general secretaries of CGIL and UIL, Maurizio Landini and Pierpaolo Bombardieri, confirmed the general strike, underlining the frustration of the unions.
Meanwhile, the House Budget Committee received a massive 4,500 amendments, of which over 3,000 were submitted by opposition groups. The latter proposed a significant amendment to finance the National Health System, calling for 6,802 million euros for 2025 and an increase to 14,398 million by 2030, drawing resources from environmentally harmful subsidies. During the meeting, Meloni emphasized the government’s commitment to keeping the accounts in order and to focus on key priorities, despite the difficulties of the current international context. She expressed the will to implement a change compared to the past, where measures were often aimed at gaining immediate consensus rather than ensuring lasting growth.
According to Meloni, the solidity of the government has allowed an active participation of banks and insurance companies in the coverage of the budget law, marking a clear change compared to previous government approaches.
The unions' reactions were clear: Landini asked for a radical change in the budget, criticizing the lack of dialogue with the unions before the law was presented to Parliament. Bombardieri raised concerns about workers' purchasing power, highlighting that there will be no increase in January’s paychecks despite the progress on the tax wedge. Luigi Sbarra of Cisl further requested specific changes to improve the maneuver, such as increasing minimum pensions and support for non-self-sufficiency. He described this law as a starting point for a broader agreement between social partners and institutions.
The current situation highlights significant tensions between the government and trade unions, with urgent calls for a review of the budget law. The future direction requires a constructive dialogue that can lead to more inclusive and sustainable economic policies. The road ahead is long and complex; however, the hope is that this comparison can translate into concrete actions that favor social cohesion and the economic revival of Italy in an increasingly challenging international landscape.
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