Italy finalises fuel tax discounts amid debate over presidential ambitions

Italian officials are finalizing a decree aimed at capping diesel prices below two euros per liter through a mobile excise tax mechanism. Funding for the measure relies on excess value-added tax revenues generated by higher prices at the pump, as well as a proposed tax increase on tobacco products. The plan envisions discounts of up to 24.6 cents per liter on diesel and six cents on gasoline, alongside targeted aid for low-income families delivered through a social card. Minister for European Affairs Tommaso Foti reiterated the need for caution, citing market unpredictability in the Gulf.

Concurrently, political friction has heightened over future presidential prospects. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein criticized speculation regarding Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s presidential ambitions, calling the prospect "unimaginable" amid ongoing debates over electoral reform and center-right candidate slates.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero.