“We do want to pay, but don’t make us close down”

These are stories at a time of crisis, but not the usual stories. Businesspeople who would like to continue producing, paying taxes to the State and salaries to their employees, but who are unable to because the demand notices from the tax collection agency, Equitalia, contain interest and costs that have increased the debt, to sums that are impossible to pay off monthly. There are also banks that have stopped giving credit. And it is happening everywhere; Equitalia has already stated that all of their procedures comply with the law (this is in response to accusations of extortion, made also in Varese and Busto Arsizio), but there is still the social problem: who is going to give an answer to these businesspeople who would like to save jobs?

This morning, at 9.30, Giuseppe Bottinelli put up his banners with his demands to Equitalia. Until a week ago, he would never have wanted to end up in the newspapers, or to tell his story in public. Today, he has changed his mind. “You’ve got to come out into the open, and make sure that the public become aware,” he said. “This is an important battle; Equitalia’s procedures are causing the country social harm.”

THE WINE PRODUCER: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP US TO OVERCOME THE CRISIS. (Video interview)

The business owner from Varese has avoided the auctioning of his wines, with a countermove in court, but the problem remains. In about one week, his accusation has had an impact on society. Today, there were dozens of people in front of his company, and many of them were in danger of losing their jobs.

Fiorella Complani, of Cartotecnica, in Gavirate, came with all ten of her employees. She is in danger of having to dismiss all of them if she does not get an extension.

THE BUSINESSWOMAN WHO HAD MONEY THAT WAS TO BE USED FOR SALARIES SEIZED (Video interview)

The most passionate participant in this protest was Wally Bonvicini. Equitalia has already said that they are going to sue her for slander, because she had claimed that Equitalia is involved in extortion. She is extremely determined; she came from Parma by car and she speaks her mind.

THE PASSIONATE PARTICIPANT: THIS IS LOAN-SHARKING (Video interview)

She is a combination of a union organizer and the entertainer Beppe Grillo, when he first started, she supports herself with the donations of a number of businesspeople, but she never asks for money to pay for a lawyer. She only gives advice. “I’m sixty and I’ll keep on fighting Equitalia  till I’m 120.”