Car tax, why the comparison with Tridico is absurd | Libero Quotidiano.it

Day of gnawing yesterday with the left caught off guard by the announcement of the stamp duty cut. There were two most resentful reactions. The first is that of former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who digs up an old Facebook post by Giorgia Meloni from May 5, 2016. Ten years ago Giorgia accused the then Prime Minister and PD secretary of being a “seller of pots” because he wanted to “abolish the car tax”. Meloni’s accusation was that he was launching these proposals to cover up the news of the arrest of a PD mayor. “This is Giorgia Meloni,” Renzi comments. “A leader who attacks opponents and then copies them.”

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But copy it in what sense, excuse me Matteo? If you had abolished the car tax there would have been no occasion to do it now. But it is Pasquale Tridico‘s reaction that is certainly the most heard and relayed also on social media, the true agora of politics today. In a closing speech at the Atreju event, Meloni equated Pasquale Tridico – M5S candidate for the presidency of Calabria – to Cetto La Qualunque because he had promised to cut the car tax once he became governor. The criticism, the mockery, and Tridico’s polite resentment are understandable. But completely off target. Tridico’s was an electoral promise. For it to become reality, the candidate’s loyalty in keeping his word is needed. But it is necessary – even before and especially that the candidate wins that competition. A necessary but not sufficient condition for the promise to come true. But Tridico did not win those elections and no one will know if he would have removed the tax or not.

Actually, he would not have removed it and I will explain why shortly. Meanwhile, it remains that an electoral promise by a candidate cannot be equated with an announcement by a Prime Minister in full power and supported by a majority capable of approving his decision. In short, Meloni’s words are not a promise but an announcement. Tridico’s were not an announcement but a promise. But it can be said, without disrespecting the former president of INPS, that electoral promise was absolutely unrealizable. And here too I will explain why. The budget of a Region is obviously made up of revenues and expenditures like that of any entity. Almost 60% of what enters the coffers are transfers from Rome. Then there is 10% of various revenues (service fees etc).

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Finally, there is another 30% of regional taxes; namely IRAP, additional IRPEF and therefore the infamous car tax. This can weigh from 2 to 4% of total revenues. And how does a Region spend this money? Almost all on healthcare (70-75%) and transport (10%). It is obvious to anyone that if Tridico had cut the car tax, he could have financed this measure only by slashing healthcare.

Regions in fact do not have tax autonomy. They cannot invent new taxes or raise or lower at will those that the law allows them to impose. To make you understand how bizarre Tridico’s promise was, if the car tax in the regional budget weighs up to 4% of revenues it is as if Giorgia Meloni lowered a tax of about 30 billion (all the car tax and all the IMU to be clear). Would it be possible? And in fact this car tax cut weighs “only” two billion. The difference between Tridico and Meloni is all here. It is as if I told you: “I will win Wimbledon.” And it is as if Sinner told you: “I will win Wimbledon.” Same words, of course. But does it seem like the same story to you?

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