After the resignation of the Prime Minister, the Draghi government is in charge only for current affairs, but among these there is at least one measure of great importance: it is the Aid decree bis, which is worth a total of 12-13 billion and between today and tomorrow will be presented to the social partners (trade unions and businesses). The new package of measures contains the extension until the end of the year of discounts on bills to families, the extension of corporate tax credits, 30 cent cut on petrol and diesel excise duties for another month or month and a half and especially a new bonus of 200 euros to be distributed to 31 million Italians with incomes of up to 35 euros. The general objective of the measure is to support the purchasing power of households, eroded by inflation.
Aid bis decree: green light in Parliament at the beginning of August
The financial weight of the Aid bis decree will be precisely defined in a Council of Ministers convened for the Report on the adjustment of the budget, the document that will reveal the extent of the resources available thanks to the extra revenue collected by the State in this period with tax and non-tax revenues. The adjustment must also be approved by Parliament, which will probably give a quick go-ahead (within this week) to allow the government to pass the Aid bis decree in the first week of August.
The doubt between a 200 euro bonus and a VAT cut
The structure of the decree has not yet been defined and the discussions on Monday and Tuesday with the unions and businesses could prove to be decisive on this front. The main doubt concerns the second bonus of 200 euros, which could be replaced by a cut in VAT on food products more popular. This is a measure proposed by Minister Brunetta and supported by the League: the advantage would be to immediately lighten the shopping trolley bill, but at the price of a non-selective intervention, which would help not only the sections of the population with the most difficulty, but also the wealthy.
"With one billion, the 5% VAT could be eliminated and the 10% VAT could be halved on some targeted products for 3-4 months - explains Federico Freni, undersecretary of the Northern League for the Economy - I am thinking of bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, meat . We have a week to find the political framework and with the social partners: we can do it".
Cgil and Uil, on the other hand, prefer the 200 euros, because it would only go to those who earn less. The position of the CISL is more nuanced. Naturally, Confesercenti and Confcommercio would prefer to cut VAT.
The other measures of the Aid bis decree
Finally, there is no doubt about the other main measures of the Aiuti bis decree:
- the cut of excise duties on petrol and diesel (30 cents) should be extended from 21 August to mid-October, by which time the new Parliament should have been installed;
- extension to the fourth quarter of social bonus on electricity and gas bills for less well-off families, with zeroing of general system charges on electricity, reduction of VAT to 5% and general system charges on gas;
- confirmed the corporate tax rebates released from the EU "de minimis" rules, which impose a ceiling on the aid that can be collected by companies, including the Covid bonus.
