There is tension between the two
biggest parties supporting Premier Giuseppe Conte's government,
the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD), over
whether Italy should apply for funding from the European
Stability Mechanism in the wake of the coronavirus emergency.
The PD is in favour of taking up the option to obtain dozens of
billions of euros from the bailout fund at zero interest.
But the M5S is against this, fearful that use of the fund could
come with strings attached, even though the EU says there will
not be any as long as the money is used for health spending.
Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri, a PD member, has been trying
to mediate.
"We can examine all the pro and cons with the M5S experts when
the time is right," he said.
In an interview with Tuesday's edition of La Stampa, meanwhile,
Foreign Minister and M5S heavyweight Luigi Di Maio called for a
"profound fiscal reform starting from (income tax) IRPEF".
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