Italy parliament risking EU SHOWDOWN as it DEFIES backlash and BACKS deficit plan

THE Italian parliament has voted in favour of the government’s deficit plan, a move that risks infuriating European Union chiefs who have openly criticised the budget. Rome has been locked in a bitter war of words with Brussels after being forced to defend proposals to set out a deficit goal of 2.4 percent of GDP for 2019 - three times the previous administration's target.