Italy's economy minister confirms budget forecasts

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Economy Minister Giovanni Tria said on Wednesday the government found it appropriate to confirm the forecasts in its multi-year budget plan, after it failed to be validated by the parliamentary budget office.

Tria added that the coalition government, made up of the 5-Star Movement and the League, "could not and must not" base its forecasts on downside risk scenarios.

He said that the rise in Italy's deficit, as envisaged in the budget plan, would be worth 22 billion euros next year, 27 billion euros in 2020 and 25 billion euros the year after.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte)