Italy's centre-right government on Wednesday proposed a tax amnesty aimed at repatriating billions of euros - the bulk believed to be held in Swiss bank accounts - on the most favourable terms yet offered to tax evaders by a European Union member state.The amnesty will be the third offered by Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government following packages in 2001 and 2003, which brought €46bn back to Italy and earned the government €2.1bn in revenues.
The amnesty will be the third offered by Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government following packages in 2001 and 2003, which brought €46bn back to Italy and earned the government €2.1bn in revenues.
Yesterday the Minister of Economy, Tremonti, insulted a reporter by calling him a "dick-head," (testa di cazzo). The reporter had the gall to point out that Tremonti always rails against amnesties and then promptly promulgates them.
On the other hand the government continues to postpone the plain civil right to file class-action suits. Prodi had introduced class-action suits under his government but Berlusconi immediately suspended it to the relief of all the Italian kenlays presently on trial. The B law will not be retroactive nor involve on-going trials. The FT recently published a list of American managers condemned to heavy sentences. The Italian home-grown variety get their pinkie pinched and go back to business. But, hey, you voted the guy. You got your amnesty. What else do you want?
