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Salvini Says Italy’s 2020 Budget Deficit Won’t Stay Below 2%

  • Government needs to put ‘real money’ in Italians’ pockets
  • Deputy premier scored victory this week on security law
Matteo Salvini speaks at a press conference in Rome on Aug. 6.

Matteo Salvini speaks at a press conference in Rome on Aug. 6.

Photographer: Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images

Italy’s government won’t be able to contain the budget deficit below 2% if it’s going to deliver promised investments and tax cuts, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said.

“If we want to put real money in Italians’ pockets and not a mere reallocation of funds, it’s clear we cannot stay below 2%,” Salvini said at a press conference in Rome after meeting with unions and business lobbies. “We will have negotiations with the European Commission,” but the rules set by Brussels are not “sacred.”