June 29, 2007 (LPAC)--Alfonso Gianni, undersecretary of State to the Development ministry of Italy, accused Eurogroup chairman Jean Claude Juncker and others of being part of a plot to bring down the Italian government on the issue of social security. In a conversation with EIR , Gianni said that "there is a clear attempt to crush the government, joined by the President of the Eurogroup Jean Claude Juncker who, together with the Italian Court of Auditors, are trying to prevent us from using surplus tax income to re-distribute to the poorer, in order to promote domestic demand."

In a statement made available to EIR , Gianni wrote that ""The true aim of Juncker... and of all supporters of austerity" is "exaggerating the uncertainty of our budget in order to prevent an increase in public spending, which is seen as an undue interference from the State in economic sectors which they are trying to assign to private financial initiatives, such as health and social security. Our government should do exactly the opposite. In these hours (since there are ongoing negotiations between the government and the trade unions on pension reform) the government has the possibility of sending a clear signal of a shift in economic policy, responding positively to the demands of retired people and youth with precarious jobs, an opportunity we should not miss."

On the subject of Dick Cheney, Gianni told EIR that he shares LaRouche's evaluation that Vice President Cheney's career is being terminated. "I share that view. I noticed the Washington Post series on Cheney, and I am just back from a conference on alternative energy sources in Damascus, where ministers from Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and other Arab countries jumped up [angrily] the moment I mentioned Cheney and his oil interests."

Alfonso Gianni is a supporter of LaRouche's proposal for a New Bretton Woods, which he recently debated with LaRouche at a public conference June 5 in Rome, together with former economic minister Giulio Tremonti.