Hearings on Italy’s draft budget will begin on Monday, November 9, and continue through Thursday, November 12, according to the schedule outlined by the Chamber of Deputies’ Budget Committee. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti is expected to appear at 4 p.m. on November 12, although the calendar is still being finalized, committee chair Giuseppe Mangialavori said.
The hearings will include representatives from institutions such as the Bank of Italy, the National Council for Economics and Labour, the statistics agency Istat, the social security agency INPS, the Court of Auditors and the Parliamentary Budget Office. Local authorities, trade unions, employer associations, banks, insurers and representatives of sectors including construction, agriculture and the professions are also due to take part.
The committee has set Tuesday, November 17, at 6 p.m. as the deadline for submitting amendments. It plans to assess whether proposals are admissible on November 23 or 24, with appeals to be considered the following day.
The committee has also proposed removing three provisions from the bill on procedural grounds. One concerns discounted, printable digital versions of school and university textbooks. The other proposed removals concern a requirement for patients to receive a summary of medical services and their prices, and a measure on assigning staff to support commissioners overseeing post-disaster reconstruction.
The budget has drawn calls for changes from several political and institutional figures. Forza Italia has said the plan should be improved and that the Economy Ministry should help identify the necessary funding. Party leader Antonio Tajani said the party was open to considering changes on pensions and school-related measures during the parliamentary process.
Local authorities have raised concerns about resources. National Association of Italian Municipalities president Gaetano Manfredi described the budget as restrictive and called for more support for school assistance for students with disabilities and for municipalities facing higher energy costs. He also pointed to funding for unaccompanied minors and municipal police.
Emilia-Romagna president Michele de Pascale said regions should consider taking the government to the Constitutional Court if the budget remains unchanged, arguing that health funding is inadequate. The Conference of Regions has likewise called for an increase in the national health fund. Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, meanwhile, said the fund is at its highest level and continues to grow.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said he would work during the parliamentary process to remove a planned reduction affecting school staff. Parliamentary Relations Minister Luca Ciriani said Parliament and its committees could correct or improve the bill as discussions proceed.
Sources: ANSA Politica.