Economy
Hell to pay
Keen to enact its reforms, Italy’s government would rather cross swords with the EU than risk angering the populace.
Italy’s deputy prime minister Luigi di Maio was strident yesterday when discussing the EU’s fiscal restraints that limit countries within the bloc to an annual deficit of less than 3 per cent of GDP. Speaking to broadcaster Rai, he said: “The budget parameters can’t be a way to say we can’t [enact our reform agenda]. If we behave like that, we’ll be the same as the others and Italians will tell us to go to hell.” He’s probably alluding to Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, a socialist who promised much before sweeping to power but who has been cowed by EU limits. So could this lead to “Quitaly”? Commentator Christian Rocca isn’t overly concerned. “We still have safeguards, such as the economy minister [Giovanni Tria] and foreign minister [Enzo Moavero Milanesi], both appointed by president Sergio Mattarella in order to contain the damage.”