Italy’s Budget Law has received final approval in the Chamber of Deputies. The text was passed at 12:51 p.m. with 216 votes in favor, 126 against, and 3 abstentions. Immediately after the vote, Democratic Party deputies held up signs reading “Disastro Meloni,” voicing strong criticism of the measure.
During the floor debate, PD leader Elly Schlein condemned the law, describing it as detached from the real needs of Italians. She argued that the budget fails to address soaring utility bills, benefits the wealthy, and forecasts essentially zero economic growth. In contrast, Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani praised the work of majority deputies, calling the measure “serious and concrete,” attentive to families and businesses, further reducing taxes and boosting the National Health Fund to its highest level ever.
The key vote in the Chamber had already taken place on Monday evening with a confidence vote: 219 in favor and 125 against. The vote was delayed by roughly an hour and a half due to political tensions earlier in the day. The bill, already approved by the Senate, arrived in Montecitorio with no room for amendments. A brief committee review was held, as a third reading would have risked a provisional exercise. Opposition parties criticized the process, claiming Parliament was reduced to a mere rubber stamp and describing the debate as once again “marginalized.”
Overnight, lawmakers also examined the motions related to the budget, around 250 in total, submitted by both the majority and opposition, representing proposals and political positions that were not incorporated into the final text.