WORLD WORLDWIDE ITALY News Journal Update - (en) Italy, FDCA, Il Cantiere #19: Fiscal delegation "the bosses' tax" - Mario Salvadori (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 

Last August 4, the Chamber of Deputies definitively approved the tax
delegation law; the measure, voted by all the majority groups, to which
was also added that of Azione-Italia Viva, defines the tax reform by
delegating the Government to issue specific legislative decrees within
the next two years. ---- The law, emphatically indicated by government
officials as "epochal", despite its relevance, had a process that was
not too long and bumpy given that the provision was approved by the
Council of Ministers in March of this year.
In reality, for the most part, this law had already been imposed by the
previous Draghi Government, shared in fact by the entire majority at the
time - except the League which is now rejoicing - of which the PD and
M5S were also part, while it was opposed by the current majority party
of Giorgia Meloni who was in opposition. In short, the approved tax
delegation is practically similar to what the previous government had
proposed, which fell thanks to internal opposition and that of the
Brothers of Italy, i.e. by those who today approve the tax reform, while
it is now rejected by those who previously supported it .
We say this not because we are naively surprised by the usual "political
theatre", but to underline - if ever there was a need - how distant
parliamentary games are from the needs of workers, pensioners, young
people, those poorer sectors who are now being deprived of even the
minimal economic support provided by the citizen's income. And this is
also highlighted by examining the many aspects contained in the tax
delegation, among which the reduction to three of the current four Irpef
rates stands out, with greater benefit for the highest incomes, although
the precise proposal as well as the resources to finance the intervention.
What is certain is that in Italy male and female employees, and former
employees, contribute for over 85% of the overall Irpef and that the
provision is very far from a rebalancing of the tax calculation to
reduce taxes on employee employment and increase them to those who have
great wealth and financial income. In practice, it is above all the
working class who pays to maintain universal welfare... The only sop, a
tax exemption on thirteenth wages, production bonuses, overtime.
Furthermore, a "reorganization", i.e. a cut, of tax expenses is
envisaged which allows you to save on the taxes to be paid: in practice
the deductions and deductions when filing your tax return.
This law also pursues the application of the Flat Tax, which increases
inequalities, rather than providing for a strong progressive nature of
the rates; all to favor the sectors so dear to the League, as had
already been done with the Budget Law for 2023 for which self-employed
workers can apply a flat rate tax of 15% up to 85,000 euros.
Among the various measures, the gradual abolition of IRAP also stands
out, as was envisaged by the Draghi Government, without clarifying where
to find the resources that will be missing, with a worrying impact on
the stability of the healthcare system; if we see what happened in this
sector during the recent pandemic, the current lack of staff in hospital
facilities, the increasingly frayed network of general practitioners,
the long waits for diagnostics and treatments, an extremely worrying
picture presents itself which will be paid - as always - by the less
well-off who cannot resort to direct payment which magically opens all
the doors and blows up the waiting lists.
The finance law also provides for a biennial preventive agreement
starting from the current framework, burdened by 100 billion in tax
evasion, repeated in the future, eliminating any possibility of control;
this de facto legalization of tax evasion, together with a "soft" line
on sanctions for the most collaborative taxpayers, definitely suits the
social classes of reference of the current government team.
As well as rewarding all forms of income, from real estate to financial
income, further fueling the flat tax and compensation regime, and the
explicit provision that some financial income will continue to be
excluded from the ISEE calculation.
It is true that a revision of VAT is foreseen with a proposed reduction,
or elimination, for some basic necessities, but in the absence of
controls it is easy to foresee that this will prove to be only a
cosmetic measure, leaving prices unchanged.
The examination of the articles could continue along these lines but we
can say that what they have in common, as seen, is a clear class imprint
aimed at favoring the various sectors of the bourgeoisie.
Of course, it is never a question of exaggerating, and Meloni knows this
well having begun her political commitment in that social right which
has a precise reference point in populism. Thus, between a proposed
reduction in VAT on some products and a jab at the opposition with the
provision on extra bank profits, the citizen's income is cut and we
continue along Draghi's liberalist line, a line from which in any case
they did not even substantially differ previous governments.
We see then that this tax reform law, which coincidentally had been
recommended by the Brussels Commission, is liked by the tradesmen's and
artisans' associations and substantially also by Confindustria which,
however, always insatiable, criticizes the cut in Ires (tax on income
from company) linked to hiring.
As regards the confederal unions, the law was rejected by CGIL and UIL,
while the CISL remained more secluded and at the same time flirted with
Matteo Salvini.
In particular, the CGIL criticizes the whole system and sees a turn back
of 50 years, announcing the mobilization and that "we will not stop".
Meanwhile, for now, there have only been well-attended demonstrations
but without any strike action, except the joint strike of the
metalworkers in July, i.e. without having much impact on the actions of
the government and the bosses.
The general assembly of the CGIL, which met on 19 and 20 July last,
promoted a large demonstration for 7 October in Rome, on a vast series
of objectives, and an extraordinary consultation in the workplace to
continue the mobilization "until the strike general". We will see.
As usual, the facts will tell whether this will be yet another
inconclusive flash in the pan, or whether workers will once again become
protagonists in a "hot autumn" capable of winning contracts, wages,
better working conditions and of life.

Alternativa Libertaria/FdCA Il Cantiere #19 settembre 2023
ilcantiere@autistici.org http://alternativalibertaria.fdca.it/
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