"An almsgiving", "taking for the bottoms", "oppositions against the discount on gasoline".

Italian opposition parties have sharply criticized a recent government decision to cut fuel taxes on diesel by just 17 cents per liter, calling it a symbolic gesture that fails to address the rising cost of living crisis. The move, approved by the Council of Ministers, has been described by critics as a mere token concession, offering temporary relief for only two weeks until August 6. The measure was introduced in response to soaring fuel prices, which have pushed the cost of diesel and gasoline well above pre-pandemic levels. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) accused the government of providing "charity" rather than meaningful support, arguing that the reduction would not significantly lower fuel costs. According to M5S members serving on parliamentary committees for Budget, Finance, and Production, the price of fuel would remain around 2 euros per liter, still much higher than before the Hormuz Strait tensions. They emphasized that the government’s approach reflects a broader economic strategy focused on tightening fiscal constraints rather than addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and middle-income earners. Giuseppe Conte, former prime minister and current president of the M5S, condemned the policy as dismissive of citizens struggling with inflation linked to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and the United States. He accused the government of failing to implement substantial measures against rising living costs while avoiding discussions on taxing excess profits made by energy companies, arms manufacturers, and banks. Conte suggested that instead of focusing on minor tax cuts, the government should consider more impactful policies to alleviate financial pressure on households. Angelo Bonelli, leader of the Green Europe party, compared Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the fictional character "Sheriff of Nottingham," highlighting the perceived hypocrisy of spending public funds on a minimal fuel price reduction. He pointed out that the government had allocated over 2.2 billion euros since March without seeking contributions from oil companies or other sectors benefiting from the crisis. Bonelli criticized Economy Minister Danilo Toninelli for boasting about Italy being the only European country to adopt such a measure, despite its limited impact. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), expressed frustration with the government's narrow focus on diesel alone, questioning why gasoline prices were excluded from the tax cut. She noted that the government had delayed implementing a mobile excise duty mechanism, which could have allowed immediate refunds to consumers based on increased VAT revenues from both diesel and gasoline. Schlein argued that the current measure would not bring fuel prices below 2 euros per liter and failed to tackle the real issues facing Italians. Chiara Appendino, a M5S deputy, called the policy a "patch worse than the hole," emphasizing that the 17-cent reduction on diesel for ten days represented an expenditure of 125 million euros. She claimed this amounted to retaining 80 percent of the additional tax revenue collected from fuel price increases earlier in the year. Appendino accused the government of betraying promises made during the election campaign and continuing to neglect the concerns of ordinary citizens. Raffaella Paita, head of the Italia Viva group in the Senate, described the decree as late and ineffective, reflecting the government's inability and indifference toward national challenges. She highlighted that since April, the government had intervened three times without adequately addressing the problems faced by Italians. Paita stressed the need for more decisive action to combat the rising cost of living and improve the quality of life for all citizens.