Italian politics costs taxpayers €757 a year
The Italian political system costs each taxpayer €757 a year, although the prime minister's office costs just €15, the latest report by the Italian Labour Union (UIL) has found.
The direct and indirect costs of Italian politics cost €23.2 billion a year, amounting to €757 per taxpayer, the UIL said in a report released on Monday.
Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s office was forecast to cost €458.6 million in 2013; at €15 per taxpayer the figure is an increase of 11.6 percent on last year.
The office of President Giorgio Napolitano was set to be a relative bargain this year at €228 million, equal to 2012.
Both houses of parliament are getting cheaper, according to the report.
The cost of the Chamber of Deputies went down by five percent on last year to €943 million, according to the forecast. The Senate bill was €505 million for 2013, 4.3 percent lower than last year.
SEE ALSO: Italian MPs twice as pricey as German MPs
But while the costs in some areas of politics may be going down, the labour union noted that the overall price would remain high given the number of people working within the political system.
“A million people live on politics; around five percent of the workforce. Reduce the number and we can go through with constitutional reform,” said Luigi Angeletti, the union secretary.
SEE ALSO: Over a million Italians earn a living from politics
Italy has 1,041 national and European parliamentarians, ministers and undersecretaries, the report said.
In addition, there are 1,270 presidents, councillors and council members at the regional level, 3,446 at provincial level and an additional 138,83 locally.
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The direct and indirect costs of Italian politics cost €23.2 billion a year, amounting to €757 per taxpayer, the UIL said in a report released on Monday.
Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s office was forecast to cost €458.6 million in 2013; at €15 per taxpayer the figure is an increase of 11.6 percent on last year.
The office of President Giorgio Napolitano was set to be a relative bargain this year at €228 million, equal to 2012.
Both houses of parliament are getting cheaper, according to the report.
The cost of the Chamber of Deputies went down by five percent on last year to €943 million, according to the forecast. The Senate bill was €505 million for 2013, 4.3 percent lower than last year.
SEE ALSO: Italian MPs twice as pricey as German MPs
But while the costs in some areas of politics may be going down, the labour union noted that the overall price would remain high given the number of people working within the political system.
“A million people live on politics; around five percent of the workforce. Reduce the number and we can go through with constitutional reform,” said Luigi Angeletti, the union secretary.
SEE ALSO: Over a million Italians earn a living from politics
Italy has 1,041 national and European parliamentarians, ministers and undersecretaries, the report said.
In addition, there are 1,270 presidents, councillors and council members at the regional level, 3,446 at provincial level and an additional 138,83 locally.
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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