Italy's Renzi says tax cuts "promote social justice"

Tax cuts are the cornerstone of government policy and a way to promote social justice, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said here Wednesday.

"The key point is that Italy's fiscal pressure is unsustainable, and reducing it is the main way to uphold social justice," Renzi said at the inauguration of the 2016 and 2017 academic year of the national finance police academy.

"Along with our record fight against tax evasion, this organic design makes for a government that is especially sensitive to tax issues," Renzi said.

Renzi added that a series of economic indicators showing Italy had returned to growth "are the real turning point" for the country.

At least 41 percent of Italians aged 14 and above gave a high rating this year compared to 35.1 percent in 2015, and the percentage of Italians that are satisfied with their economic situation rose from 47.5 percent in 2015 to 50.5 percent this year.

"GDP has added 1.6 percent between February 2014 (when Renzi took office) and October 2016, there are 656,000 new jobs...These are the real turning point for the country," Renzi said.

"But the recovery data must be accompanied by an awareness of a vision for the future," the Italian Prime Minister added. Endit