S
ilvio Berlusconi launched his election campaign on Thursday by promising a series of welfare benefits including a minimum monthly “dignity income” of 1,000 euros.
The basic income would be paid universally to ensure a minimum salary is received by all Italians - whether
they are in work or not.
The conservative billionaire former prime minister also promised fiscal immunity for companies hiring young apprentices, and tax cuts and free veterinary treatment for owners of domestic pets.
“Unfortunately there are in Italy 4.75 million people who live in absolute poverty,” the media mogul told 101 Radio.
“They have increased by 65 percent in 10 years. This is unacceptable for a European country. Nobody can live well, even if they are well off, knowing that around us there are millions of Italians who have to live on public assistance or private charity.”
Mr Berlusconi, 81, said that his Forza Italia party would provide “fiscal easing for people who take care of a domestic animal, so as to make it easier to adopt dogs and cats”.
"We are thinking of free fortnightly or monthly visits and to remove - for old people or those who do not live well – VAT on pet food," he said.
Mr Berlusconi made his pledges as Italian President Sergio Mattarella was preparing to dissolve parliament and call a general election expected on March 4.
Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in an end of year press conference said his centre-Left government had steered the country through its worst post-war crisis including curtailing migration from north Africa and increasing growth.
He poured scorn on “more or less fantastic” promises of a state-funded minimum income from Mr Berlusconi and the opposition Five Star Movement (M5S). Similar schemes are currently being trailed in Finland and the Netherlands.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who leads Mr Gentiloni's party, estimated that the M5S plan for a citizenship income of 780 euros a month for nine million underprivileged people would cost 84 billion euros, while Berlusconi's universal income proposal would cost as much as 157 billion euros. "How are they going to cover these costs?" Renzi asked, "with Monopoly money?"
An opinion poll by the Ixe agency commissioned by Huffington Post Italia last weekend gave Mr Gentiloni’s Democratic Party 22.8 per cent of votes compared with 29 per cent for M5S
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia had 16 per cent, with its right-wing allies the Northern League and Brothers of Italy on 12
His alliance is expected to win most seats but not an absolute majority, resulting in a hung parliament.
Berlusconi is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights against a ban on running for public office from a 2013 tax-fraud conviction.
Mr Berlusconi, 81, said that his Forza Italia party would provide “fiscal easing for people who take care of a domestic animal, so as to make it easier to adopt dogs and cats”.
"We are thinking of free fortnightly or monthly visits and to remove - for old people or those who do not live well – VAT on pet food," he said.
Mr Berlusconi made his pledges as Italian President Sergio Mattarella was preparing to dissolve parliament and call a general election expected on March 4.
Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in an end of year press conference said his centre-Left government had steered the country through its worst post-war crisis including curtailing migration from north Africa and increasing growth.
He poured scorn on “more or less fantastic” promises of a state-funded minimum income from Mr Berlusconi and the opposition Five Star Movement (M5S). Similar schemes are currently being trailed in Finland and the Netherlands.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who leads Mr Gentiloni's party, estimated that the M5S plan for a citizenship income of 780 euros a month for nine million underprivileged people would cost 84 billion euros, while Berlusconi's universal income proposal would cost as much as 157 billion euros. "How are they going to cover these costs?" Renzi asked, "with Monopoly money?"
An opinion poll by the Ixe agency commissioned by Huffington Post Italia last weekend gave Mr Gentiloni’s Democratic Party 22.8 per cent of votes compared with 29 per cent for M5S
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia had 16 per cent, with its right-wing allies the Northern League and Brothers of Italy on 12
His alliance is expected to win most seats but not an absolute majority, resulting in a hung parliament.
Berlusconi is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights against a ban on running for public office from a 2013 tax-fraud conviction.
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