ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s government on Thursday approved a new 17 billion euro budget package to help businesses and families cope with soaring energy and consumer product prices.
This is one of the last major plans led by the resigning President of the Italian Council, Mario Draghi, ahead of the early general elections on 25th September.
These new measures are in addition to the 35 billion euros in aid already deployed since last January by Rome to offset the surge in inflation, in particular electricity, gas and fuel prices.
During a press conference organized after the Council of Ministers, Mario Draghi underlined that this budgetary package was “intended to protect the rebound of the Italian economy in a worsening international environment”.
“We are ready to adopt additional measures if necessary,” added the former head of the European Central Bank (ECB), who last month tendered his resignation after a new crisis within the coalition. in power.
Among the measures approved, the extension of the cap on gas and electricity prices for low-income families. A discount on prices at the pump that was to expire on August 21 will remain in effect until September 20.
The government has assured that the new budget package will not increase Italy’s public debt, citing higher than expected tax revenues.
(Report Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante and Giselda Vagnoni; French version Jean Terzian)
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