Nearly 7mila school staff positions slated for elimination will remain in place under a revised budget maneuver, government officials announced on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2026.
The abrupt reversal drops planned cuts to teaching and administrative personnel that aimed to save the state 85 million euros in 2027 and 250 million euros the following year, Agenzia ANSA reported.
Pierpaolo Bombardieri, leader of the Uil trade union, broke the news outside a marathon eight-hour meeting at Palazzo Chigi between the government and social partners. “Ho una buona notizia, l’intervento sarà ritirato,” he told Agenzia ANSA, confirming the removal of the controversial school measures.
Education Minister quickly backed the decision, stating that he viewed the retreat positively as it took shape during negotiations.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the administration’s broader financial trajectory while addressing the policy pivot. She maintained that the adjustments were never intended as punitive cuts but rather as a reorganization of growing allocations, though the administration chose to inject fresh attention into the sector.
Meloni also defended the broader framework via video to champion the middle class and achievements so far, which quickly triggered counter-attacks from Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein and M5S leader Giuseppe Conte against government policies.
“Abbiamo deciso di dare un ulteriore segnale di attenzione perché la scuola è molto più di una voce di bilancio, è il posto dove si decide che nazione saremo tra 20 anni,” Meloni said.
The Anief education union welcomed the reversal as a constructive sign for the country’s classrooms.
Negotiations at Palazzo Chigi also targeted healthcare funding and pension frameworks, though friction remained high among labor representatives. Daniela Fumarola, secretary of the Cisl union, said officials are assessing state funds to channel toward public healthcare during the parliamentary review.
Disagreements persisted over retirement policies. While Cisl pushed for targeted pension adjustments, Uil’s Bombardieri voiced pessimism and demanded the deployment of 850 million euros for early retirement funds. Meanwhile, Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana said that discussions are underway regarding resources to cover the revenue shortfalls experienced by regions due to the abolition of the automobile tax.
Meanwhile, the Cgil union boycotted the Palazzo Chigi talks entirely, sending confederal secretary Christian Rossi instead to confirm a planned general strike for Nov. 20.
Lawmakers are also weighing revisions to the 2023 Superbonus credit-splitting rules and a proposed exit tax targeting individuals moving their tax residency abroad. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti emphasized that fiscal prudence remains mandatory amid a complex international economic backdrop.
As coalition parties race to file amendments ahead of parliamentary votes, Lega is pushing to extend flat tax regimes to younger professionals, while other factions target pension re-evaluations for the middle class.
