Giorgia Meloni's government in Italy has lifted fines for people who refused to receive mandatory covid-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic, call "Euro Weekly News"

Italy has been among the countries hardest hit by the pandemic and has registered more than 190,000 deaths, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mario Draghi, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's predecessor, made the vaccination compulsory for teachers and health workers and extended the obligation to all over-50s during his 2021-2022 mandate. According to the regulation, public servants who refused to be vaccinated were suspended from work without pay, and those over 50 were fined 100 euros. In the new government announcement, it is stated that fines have been abolished, as well as all payment obligations.

Italian media floated the idea of ​​refunding those who paid, but that was not mentioned in the announcement. Meloni, who took office at the end of 2022 at the head of a right-wing coalition, accused her predecessors Draghi and Giuseppe Conte of an ideological approach to Covid, promising to do things differently.

The opposition parties reacted angrily to this move.

- The abolition of penalties for those who have not been vaccinated is a way of winking at the opponents of vaccination, said Riccardo Maggi, a representative of the small Italian party +Europe.