The time has come to elect the new number one of Confindustria. Competing for the role of president will be Vincenzo Boccia, CEO of the Graphic Arts of Salerno, and Alberto Vacchi, from Bologna, at the helm of the IMA group. On Thursday 31 March, the 198 members of the General Council will be called to choose their own candidate, putting an end to months of debates and controversies.
Both contenders, to date, seem to have a good chance of success (despite the rumors, Boccia seems to have a slight advantage) thanks also to the presence of excellent sponsors who have not failed to openly give their support to their "favourite".
Just to give the two most striking examples, Boccia is supported by Emma Marcegaglia (as well as by Luigi Abete), convinced that he is the right man to give a sign of continuity and continue the work put in place by Giorgio Squinzi over the course of last years.
On the opposite side we find Gianfelice Rocca, number one of Assolombarda, who instead sees Alberto Vacchi as the right man to inaugurate the turning point that Confindustria needs to "resurrect" and prosper.
During an interview with Corriere della Sera, Boccia summarized his objectives: «Ours is an idea of an association focused on the development of horizontal factors of competitiveness: energy, state reform, industrial relations, infrastructure, credit, South, digital. A policy of factors and not of sectors». Not only that: in the event that he becomes president, the former leader of Small and Medium Industry will try to bring Fiat back to Viale dell'Astronomia, opening a parallel discussion table with Finmeccanica. Another central point of his program is the reform of the contractual system: a question of fundamental importance which, according to what Boccia declared, affects competitiveness. The aim is to "fix clear rules of engagement".
Over the last 15 years the cost of labor per unit of product has risen by 30% compared to Germany, for this reason, according to the Ceo of Arti Grafiche, important changes need to be made in order to give a boost to the production system and to industrial relations. A reform that at company level passes through a "double track", for an exchange between wages and productivity/flexibility; "only in this way - Boccia stated in an interview with Repubblica - will we allow our companies to grow, sell around the world, increase employment and wages in proportion to increases in productivity and therefore also internal demand, creating the circle economic virtuoso”.
For Vacchi instead, which has many companies in the North and Emilia as well as trade unions and the engineering industry, the keywords are attractiveness and sustainability. Objectives to be achieved by forging a close alliance between companies that will have to become a "chain chain capable of becoming a system", but also between producers in order to strengthen the recovery and turn the whole country around. Even the number one of IMA within his program, indicates as a primary commitment that of reforming bargaining in order to "manage to give companies of all sizes and sectors a "tool box" - built at an inter-confederation level - from which each company can choose the contracting model that is most consistent with its needs.”
As for the future of Confindustria, Vacchi does not seem to have any doubts: in the event that he becomes president he would initiate an organizational renewal, fully implementing the Pesenti reform "with the appropriate corrective measures" and above all trying to involve young Italian entrepreneurs. "It's a change of mentality that we need," explained Vacchi. The Advisory Board will have to become the real "planning booth for territories (grouped into macro areas), categories and large companies", while the presidency team will be assigned areas to report on, in order to involve Viale dell 'Astronomy, all associated, large and small businesses.
We remind you that after the vote of 31 March, with secret ballot, the general council will be called to vote for the team during the meeting of 28 April. Subsequently, the private assembly of May 25 will elect the new president. The public assembly will be held on the 26th in the morning: in addition to the intervention of the new number one, traditionally a speech by the Minister of Development is also expected.
