There are more than 3,600 signatures collected by
Banca Etica's petition to save widespread popular shareholding.
The petition asks the Parliament to re-introduce into the stability law the exemption from stamp duty for micro-investments under 1,000 euros, an exemption that was in force until Law No. 214 of 22 December 2011 (investments in postal vouchers of up to 5 thousand euros are exempt from the stamp duty).
This exemption threshold serves to safeguard the widespread and popular shareholding that underlies the most significant experiences of economic democracy, including that of Banca Etica. The 34 euro stamp imposed without proportion even on very small investments is, on the other hand, an unfair leap that hinders participation and discourages small savers.
“The Government has so far rejected parliamentary initiatives aimed at reintroducing an exemption threshold, a decision that can hardly be explained as a mere technical choice,”
explains Ugo Biggeri, the president of Banca Etica: “the economic coverage for the exemption could easily be achieved at least by introducing an equal rate for everyone. We ask the Government for a turnaround to ensure that the lack of exemption does not result in a political choice aimed at penalizing small investors.
(source: Vita.it)
