The Italian government, led by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, proposed a bill that offers assistance to pregnant women in difficulty who choose to maintain the lives of their babies.
The proposal, promoted by Senator Maurizio Gasparri of the party Forza Italy, provides aid of 1.000 euros per month for five years for women who decide to continue with the pregnancy — around R$360, or 60 euros.
The measure aims to reduce the number of abortions motivated by financial difficulties, as per Article 5 of Italy’s Law 194. Gasparri stressed that the support is both moral and financial, encouraging women to continue their pregnancies. He declared: “Let’s defend life!” when announcing the measure on social media.
In addition to the basic aid, the proposal foresees increases of 50 euros per month from the second child onwards and 100 euros up to the age of 18 in case of the child's disability.
Funding and Eligibility Criteria
To finance the initiative, a maternity income fund will be created with 600 million euros per year. To qualify, mothers must have an Equivalent Economic Status Indicator (ISEE) less than 15.000 euros and be Italian citizens residing in the country.
In April 2024, Meloni had already approved a package of measures to reduce the number of abortions in the country, including access for volunteers from pro-life associations to abortion centers to offer assistance to mothers.
The maternity income proposal reflects the defense of Meloni traditional values, especially with regard to family and abortion. She argues that her pro-life measures aim to guarantee women the possibility of choosing an alternative to abortion by removing the financial causes that may lead to this decision.
Meloni, who is a central figure in European right-wing politics, continues to argue that traditional values are essential to Italy's national and religious identity. This move also aligns with its actions at the 7 G2024 summit, where Italy vetoed the inclusion of a reference to abortion rights in the final communiqué, provoking criticism from other leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, president of France.
The Prime Minister believes that these values are under attack in contemporary culture and that a high birth rate is crucial for Italy's future, as advocated at events such as the Budapest Demographic Summit.
