ROME, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The Italian parliament approved on Thursday a 24.9-billion-euro (32 billion U.S. dollars) austerity budget aimed at curbing public expenditures and supporting economic growth.
The bill was cleared following a vote of confidence at the House imposed by the center-right government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. There were a total of 321 yes votes, 270 no votes and 4 abstentions.
The budget's goal is to balance Italy's finances in the next two years by getting the deficit in line with the eurozone stability pact rules, and thus tackle a possible domino effect of the Greek fiscal crisis. Italy's actual deficit level stands at 5. 9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and should shrink to below 3 percent.
Public spending cuts hit heavily all state employees and sectors, including a three-year freeze on public salaries and personnel turnovers. The budget contains also the suspension of fines for breaking EU milk production quotas.
Tensions in the country were high during the approval of the budget, with a series of strikes hitting the public sector.
Commenting on the measure, Senate Speaker Renato Schifani said it was drastic but necessary in order to avoid a similar default crisis as the one in Greece.
"The global economic woes impose on us a deficit reduction which demands great sacrifices from all Italian citizens because the number one goal is to keep public finances under control," he said.
