Meloni to Business Leaders: 'Italy Respects Rules, We'll Ease Middle-Class Tax Burden'

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the Confcommercio General Assembly in Rome, emphasizing that Italy is not a "banana republic" and that rules must be respected. "There is no market without rules, there are no healthy businesses, and there is no growth," Meloni stated, referencing remarks by Confcommercio President Carlo Sangalli. She highlighted her government's measures against "fly-by-night" activities and pledged further action to reduce the tax burden on the middle class. "We are not going to stop, we want to do more to reduce the tax burden on the middle class," she added, contrasting her approach with proposals to tax wealth. "Others talk about taxing wealth, we are working so that Italians can aspire to have wealth after decades of sacrifice."

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This is not the banana republic, here rules are respected, as President Sangalli recalled, there is no market without rules, there are no healthy businesses, and there is no growth

Meloni identified the "emergency" of the younger generations as a critical issue, stressing the need to offer them more opportunities. She also pointed to the demographic crisis as one of the country's most significant economic problems, emphasizing the necessity of reversing this trend. Confcommercio, she noted, is a vital pillar of the Italian system and a dynamic engine of the nation's economy, describing its members as a "people's force, born from below."

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We are not going to stop, we want to do more to reduce the tax burden on the middle class

Carlo Sangalli, President of Confcommercio, acknowledged a general sense of uncertainty in Italy but also a feeling of resilience. He pointed out that while Italy's long-term growth remains insufficient, the economy's fundamentals are still encouraging. Sangalli highlighted positive signs but also noted weaknesses, such as a crisis of confidence among young people and low female participation in the workforce. He stressed that energy remains a priority for the business sector, with a particular focus on nuclear power as a decisive step forward. Sangalli also addressed infrastructure challenges, including difficulties for transport companies at Alpine passes, the reform of the port system, and the high costs associated with Ets (Emissions Trading System) impacting sea highways.

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Others talk about taxing wealth, we are working so that Italians can aspire to have wealth after decades of sacrifice

Sangalli further discussed the ongoing transformation of Italian cities, noting risks associated with organic planning. He cited the "entrepreneurial desertification" with over 156,000 commercial establishments closing in the last 13 years. Conversely, he also pointed to phenomena of intensive urban exploitation, such as the rise of short-term rentals, which can create opposing pressures within cities.

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We have an emergency that we call young generations, the ability to offer more and further opportunities to the best energies we have, and on the other hand the need to reverse the demographic emergency, one of the biggest economic problems