¡¡¡¡Economic growth: The proposed cut in payroll taxes and contributions is aimed primarily at reducing the cost of labor and making Italian companies more competitive, especially compared to foreign rivals.

    To encourage firms to be more innovative, those that invest in research would get tax breaks and hiring researchers would also be made easier. Fiscal policy would be designed to encourage firms to grow and achieve an international presence.

    Jobs: The program talks about reintroducing tax credits for companies that hire salaried employees. This is a bid to promote stable employment rather than short-term contracts which the center-left says leave workers in a state of "precariousness."

    The same point of stable employment is behind a plan to raise social security contributions payable on these contracts. The idea is to ensure that, for an employer, non-permanent workers are no cheaper than stable full time employees.

    The program also contains a commitment to develop tourism as a key national industry all year round.

¡¡¡¡Family: Prodi proposes introducing a monthly payment to families of 200 euros (about 240 dollars) per child at least until the age of three and possibly until 18. It would replace traditional family support schemes and tax breaks that salaried employees with children get.

    The program also promises 3,000 new kindergartens over five years and state contributions to encourage family saving plans to pay for children's university studies.

    Foreign policy: The program talks about a commitment to the European Union (EU) and greater European integration. It says Italy must use military force only with a mandate from the United Nations or the EU.

    It repeats the center-left's pledge to pull Italian troops out of Iraq. Islamist terrorism must be fought primarily through intelligence, it argues.

    Little attention is paid to Italy's relationship with the United States, noting that the relationship will be "loyal."

    It also give NATO short shrift, mentioning it only in connection with plans for an autonomous EU defence capability.

    Domestic issues: The program promises Italians "more security," saying that a Prodi government would put more police officers on the streets.

    On immigration, it says the current laws, approved by the Berlusconi government, should be replaced by new legislation. This would help legal immigrants integrate and toughen penalties for people who traffic in immigrants and exploit them.

    Prodi also promises to put 1 percent of GDP into measures promoting culture and protecting the environment.

   Italy's centre-right coalition's electoral platform

    More than 47 million Italian voters go to the polls on April 9 and 10.

    The main contender centre-right "House of Liberties" led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, produced a 20-page electoral program which is 261 pages fewer than the one offered to voters by its adversary centre-left union led by former Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

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