New work interventions to increase permanent contracts and productivity, also modifying company representation. Cut of the IMU for the lowest incomes and new regulations on traceability that allow for the recovery of tax evasion and lower taxes on workers and businesses. Accuracy of accounts, but also divestments, recovery of investments and sustainable growth. Relaunch of education, green light for citizenship for the children of immigrants born in Italy, civil unions for homosexuals and the introduction of the crime of homophobia. These are the most significant chapters that the centre-left promises to face in the event of victory in the next general elections on 24 and 25 February. The coalition is led by the alliance between Pd and SEL, but also includes Bruno Tabacci's Democratic Center, Riccardo Nencini's PSI, Richard Theiner's SVP and the Megaphone Lista Crocetta headed by the Sicilian governor. Let's see in detail what their program includes.
WORK
This is the central point of the entire centre-left programme. One of the fundamental objectives is to modify the rules of the Fornero reform on entry flexibility, making sure not only that precarious contracts cost companies more, but also that permanent ones are more convenient. Another decisive chapter is that of labor productivity, which should improve thanks to the strengthening of company and local agreements. Also envisaged are new systems of representation in the company and a redesign of the tax system that will lighten the burden on work and on business, supporting female employment (particularly in the South).
BALANCED BUDGET AND PUBLIC DEBT
According to the centre-left, the first necessary operation once the elections have been archived is a detailed verification of the state of the public finances after the maneuvers of the Monti government. The secretary of the Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, has repeatedly spoken of the "dust" left "under the carpet" by the caretaker government, for example with regard to "social shock absorbers" and the "refinancing" of missions abroad extended until in September.
In any case, the coalition led by the Democratic Party has no intention of questioning the commitments made with Europe: Italy will respect the Fiscal Compact and reach a balanced budget within this year, but will also ask Brussels for a greater commitment to growth.
On the public debt front, there are two main strategies: on the one hand, trying to restart the Eurobond project within the Community, and on the other, organizing a large divestment program on the domestic front. The funds raised from the sale of public assets will also be used for a second purpose, namely the recovery of investments. An intervention on the costs of politics is also envisaged, through a reform of the parties which should be contained in the first government act.
TREASURY
The tax chapter naturally opens with a frontal attack on the much-hated single municipal tax. The goal announced by the centre-left is to guarantee the IMU exemption on first homes up to 500 euros. To compensate for this measure, initially there was talk of a progressive equity on properties with a cadastral value of at least 1,5 million euros (about 3 million at market prices).
In mid-January, however, the line changed: “No assets, only fiscal traceability – clarified Bersani -. I don't believe in assets: we already have it on real estate and it's called Imu. I think there should be greater progressivity on this. As for the rest of the assets, I don't intend to conceive a patrimonial one at all, because I think our problem is traceability". The revenue recovered thanks to the improvement of traceability will be invested to reduce taxes on work and businesses.
The leader of the Democratic Party, however, does not exclude that a new maneuver may be necessary: “The prediction of the Monti government is a bit optimistic, but I don't think it is wise to continue proceeding on the GDP with new maneuvers. We do not make promises in vain but we will proceed in ways that do not depress the economy. From the things I have said, no one can infer that a corrective maneuver is needed. I say no to botched reasoning on a very delicate subject. I didn't say that a maneuver is needed, but be careful to say that we are in the right place ”.
In general, according to Bersani, “there is a fiscal problem: businesses need to be supported, the labor quota on Irap must be reduced and stabilized. It is necessary to move the economy a little to get consumption back up, but without ever again talking about amnesty. Never again. We work for fiscal loyalty, so that every euro we earn can be used to reduce taxes for those who pay them".
GROWTH
As far as growth is concerned, the focus is on sustainable development. In particular, in the field of industrial policy, the centre-left intends to leverage renewable energies, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, made in Italy and new technologies at the service of cultural heritage. Particular attention is paid to small and medium enterprises, which will have to be helped to connect with each other, to capitalize and to access research and internationalization.
Also on the agenda are a series of further liberalizations for transport, energy and banks, as well as new simplifications for businesses.
EDUCATION AND RIGHTS
There are several measures on the agenda to relaunch education: the main ones include the requalification of spending, an extraordinary plan against school dropouts - especially in areas with the strongest criminal infiltration -, investments in advanced research in driving sectors with a higher content of innovation and promotion of scientific research and basic research in the humanities.
As far as the chapter on rights is concerned, the center-left focuses above all on three objectives: contrasting violence against women, recognition of citizenship for the children of immigrants born and raised in Italy, approval of a law against homophobia by civil unions. In a letter sent recently to "Cambia Italia", a meeting promoted by Arcigay and the main national associations for the rights of homosexuals and transsexuals, Bersani - in the event of victory in the elections - undertook to launch the provision within six months against homophobia and within a year the one on unions.
In particular, the leader of the Democratic Party assured that he intends to translate "the German law on homosexual unions" into Italian legislation, including "the issue of recognizing the right of the child, who grows up within a same-sex family nucleus, to be recognized by the reads the emotional bond with the non-biological parent, especially in cases of illness or death of the biological parent".
