In a surprising turn of events, the Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, has blocked an amendment to the fiscal decree aimed at increasing public funding for political parties.

The proposal, initially put forward by the Democratic Party (Pd) and Avs, sought to nearly double the funds from €25 million to €42 million annually.

This would have been achieved by altering the allocation mechanism of the 2 per mille tax contribution, reducing it to 0.2 per mille, and redistributing unallocated funds proportionally among parties.

However, the Quirinale raised concerns over the amendment's lack of coherence with the decree's urgent nature and its significant impact on public finances.

The decision has left many lawmakers stunned, as the reform was expected to pass smoothly.