1.   Parliament was given the right to reject the draft budget, and to have the last say on non-compulsory expenditure.

2.   Prodi needed communist support to pass the draft budget aimed at preparing Italy for European economic and monetary union.

3.   The draft budget will be released in the near future.

4.   This year, the company cut some of the money-losing businesses in the draft budget.

5.   Yet he did not reverse any of the spending cuts planned for next year and contained in the draft budget.

6.   Presented a week ago, the draft budget reflected campaign promises to spend more on social benefits for health and the elderly.

7.   A government spokeswoman denied that the government had made major cuts in benefits for the Chernobyl victims in the draft budget.

8.   A task-force made up of representatives of the two chambers of parliament and the Cabinet met Friday to discuss differences over the draft budget.

9.   According to law, the parliament must receive the draft budget by the end of this month.