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ROME (Reuters) – Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio on Thursday ruled out the possibility of changes to the country's 2019 budget ahead of next May's European elections.
The European Commission took the first step this week towards disciplining Italy over its expansionary budget for 2019 after Rome refused to amend it.
According to Di Maio, after the May elections, many European countries will have reasons to change the "rules of the game" in Europe.
Di Maio, who is also the leader of the 5-star populist movement, said the government would not exceed the 2019 budget deficit target of 2.4 percent of economic output.
Report by Giuseppe Fonte, written by Davide Barbuscia, edited by Giselda Vagnoni
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