For about a decade, Italy has been on a drive to attract the global rich and bring back Italian expats with huge tax exemptions. Now it’s sending mixed messages.

Premier Giorgia Meloni’s last budget before Italian elections just took an even more populist twist as attention shifts to a small measure targeting the rich.

Giorgia Meloni’s government approved a €26 billion ($29 billion) budget mainly aimed at cutting taxes for Italy’s middle class, in a bid to woo voters ahead of next year’s general election.

How Italy sticks with fiscal discipline as an election approaches is a key test for Scope Ratings, which kept its positive outlook on the country.

Italy approved emergency aid for truckers and farmers Thursday, in a bid to quell protests over diesel prices that interrupted deliveries of food staples in the country’s south.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his government will aim to allow only protest marches by labor unions Saturday to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s violent demonstrations.

Italian officials are looking into whether outside actors such as Russia had a hand in violent protests that swept Milan and other European cities over the weekend, according to people familiar with the matter.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government passed new security measures aimed at stemming violent protests, including tougher penalties on minors after a series of incidents across the country.

Italy will probably keep adhering to the European Union’s budget discipline even if it reverts to political instability, Morningstar DBRS said.

The Bank of Italy raised its outlook for the country’s economy, aligning with the predictions of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.

Premier Giorgia Meloni’s latest budget includes plans to raise €10.7 billion ($12 billion) from Italy’s financial sector over the next three years.

The European Central Bank is unlikely to step in any time soon with market intervention to help France, according to its former chief, Mario Draghi.

Gifts presented to President Donald Trump by Swiss executives were actually for the American people, according to Bern’s top trade diplomat.

Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti insisted his budget will respect European Union fiscal targets even while relieving families strained by the cost-of-living crisis.

Italy is considering buying back European bond-trading platform MTS SpA from Euronext NV, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni seeks to preserve national oversight of the country’s debt.

Premier Giorgia Meloni’s budget is aiming to finally get Italy’s deficit below the European Union’s limit this year, helped by faster-than-expected growth.

Christine Lagarde ought to provide some clarity on her future as European Central Bank president, according to Italy’s finance minister.

Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government will pare back defense spending in a late change to the budget as it seeks to shrink Italy’s deficit, according to people familiar with the matter.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s upcoming budget will lay out multiple tax cuts, while aiming to reassure investors that Italy’s finances will remain under control.

Italy’s deficit for last year was confirmed at 3.1% by the country’s statistics office, a setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government which had hoped for a revision.