“Our enemy remains the public debt: 2.300 billion which costs us 63 billion a year”. From the stage of the Confindustria annual meeting, the president of the association, Vincenzo Boccia, sends a clear message to the political forces involved in forming a government: "It's okay to change, but without destroying". Beware of the public debt - says the leader of the industrialists to the new potential government - and defends major works such as the Tav, warning of the risk of blocking the sale of Ilva. The reference to the "essential" Europe is also strong. In short, if not a warning, at least a very clear warning addressed to Lega and M5S. “It is not at all clear - says Boccia - where the resources are recovered to achieve the many electoral objectives and promises“. The question is not trivial, which is why "we need a policy that reassures the gradual reduction of public debt by creating the preconditions for growth and job creation, the country's true mission".
"WITHOUT TAV THE COUNTRY IS CONDEMNED TO ISOLATION"
Boccia said that calling into question strategic choices on infrastructures such as the Tav or the third pass and the Tap means condemning "our country, its citizens and its businesses, to a position of marginality and isolation" without counting “the huge loss of credibility. Infrastructures are one of the investment factors for Italy's growth but they are also part of a huge European project and for the Turin-Lyon, Italy has fought vigorously to ensure that the transition takes place on this side of the Alps instead than in the North, in Munich in Germany. These infrastructures bring work, democracy, trade and growth and can give centrality to Italy”.
“IN ILVA IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ALWAYS CHANGE THE CARDS ON THE TABLE”
As for Ilva in Taranto, the largest steel mill in Europe, Boccia condemns the intention to close it, which emerged in recent days but was then not included in the government contract between the Lega and the 5 Star Movement: "What message do we give to a investor, national or foreign, with all these uncertainties? Given that everything must take place with respect for people and the environment, one wonders if it is possible to continuously change the cards on the table, moreover in the year in which we enter the top ten in terms of international attractiveness”.
“ITALY WINS WITH EUROPE AND WITHIN EUROPE”
With regard to the international position of our country, the issue of Confindustria believes that “Italy can win and advance only with Europe and within Europe. To defend Italy's interests, we say loud and clear that there is one aspect on which we do not back down and claim a partisan position: it is Europe, our common home”.
“LESS EMPHASIS ON PENSIONS: THE MISSION IS THE JOB”
Returning to the economic policies that the next government will be called upon to implement, Boccia argues for the need to "reduce the emphasis on pensions", because "the intergenerational gap needs to be mended" and shift attention "to work, which must acquire a absolute centrality. Today's mission, as topical as it is ignored, is only one: it's called work”.
"THE STRENGTH OF THE RECOVERY IN ITALY CREAKS"
In terms of the economic situation, “in the first quarter there are signs of a slowdown in growth in Europe and the strength of the recovery in Italy is also creaking – underlines Boccia again – Various external factors are appearing on the horizon without promising anything good. For Italy, one of the main exporting countries in the world, tensions in international trade can lead to a slowdown, penalizing our businesses. Furthermore, the failure of the ECB's ultra-expansive policies could make financing, both public and private, more expensive".
"GOVERNMENT? THE CONTEXT WE LIVE IS STARTING TO WORRY"
The leader of the industrialists did not hide his concerns about the political situation: “The context we live in is starting to worry us. You need to have a sense of community and awareness of the delicate moment in the life of the country. We need wisdom, common sense and an awareness of our responsibilities. Of the sense of the limit. We must transform anger into passion and change without destroying. Politics must regain its role: it must not add up and replicate the pushes that come from below, from the respective electoral bases. In politics as in economics, patience is needed as well as courage and foresight. There is a difference between the way of doing of those who need to gather consensus all at once, in a short horizon and a perennial electoral campaign, and that of those who think of future generations”.
