The Lega-M5s government no longer exists, crumbled by the power struggles between the two souls that compose it. This was announced by the Premier, Giuseppe Conte, after concluding his very hard lunge against Matteo Salvini in the Senate hall: "The current crisis inevitably compromises the action of this Government which stops here”, he says, anticipating his resignation to the senators. After the parliamentary debate and the consequent reply, the Prime Minister will go up to the Quirinale. What the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, will hear is now clear: "After the debate, I put my mandate back in the hands of the President of the Republic".
Conte arrives in the Senate early, ready to fire his arrows at the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini. After more than a year of shrewd, measured speeches, often too vague and timid to convince, the Premier becomes direct, pungent and goes on the attack against those he considers "guilty of treason". Conte turns to Salvini, who sits next to him, already at the beginning of his speech, and bluntly refers to the no-confidence motion presented by the Northern League towards the Prime Minister of which they belong and which often in recent months they gave the impression of driving. “An objectively serious decision which violates the solemn commitment made with the Government contract. The timing of this decision exposes the country to serious risks", comments the Premier, who then lists them one by one: the provisional exercise, the possible increase in VAT, the danger of being cut out of the game of EU nominations. "It is clear that Italy runs the risk of participating in this negotiation in conditions of objective weakness," he explains.
Then the direct attack: “The decision to trigger the crisis is irresponsible. Deputy Prime Minister Salvini has shown that he follows personal and party interests”, he says, unleashing the screams of the senators of the League sitting on the benches of Palazzo Madama and the applause of the exponents of the 5 Star Movement. “When a political force focuses only on partisan interests, it not only betrays what should be its political vocation but it betrays the national interest. After the Europeans, there has been a constant search for a pretext to interrupt the government experience”.
"Opening the crisis in the middle of August for a government experience judged limiting by those who have claimed full powers - said the prime minister in his speech in the Senate - and the choice to postpone the decision taken some time ago until today is a gesture of imprudence disrespectful institution for Parliament and leads the country into a whirlwind spiral of political and financial uncertainty. A decision, moreover, announced after the trust obtained in the Security bis decree, a time choice that suggests political opportunism ".
"Salvini reveals a lack of institutional sensitivity and a lack of constitutional culture”, he continues, referring to the League's request to hold immediate elections. Responding to the rumors of the center-right, Conte ironizes: “Urge citizens to vote every year is irresponsible. And now applaud."
The Prime Minister openly challenges the Minister of the Interior, who sits next to him in silence and asks to withdraw the Northern League ministers if he no longer has confidence in the government to which they belong: “You have clumsily tried to accredit the idea of a government of no, of not doing. You have tarnished 14 months of intense government activity with a fatuous media drumbeat. In this way you have offended not only my personal commitment, but also the constant dedication of your own ministers and undersecretaries who have supported me every day in this government activity. You have offended the factual reality”. The Premier lists one by one the measures adopted by the Executive, from the Tav to the security decree, basic income and quota 100.
"Dear Matteo, you announced the crisis by asking for full powers. You invoked the squares. This view of yours worries me”, Conte says, continuing his accusatory speech as a good lawyer: “The principle of checks and balances is fundamental for us. We don't need people with full powers but with an institutional culture and responsibility".
Conte spares no criticism of Salvini's behavior in Italy - "you have invaded the powers of the other ministers by creating overlaps and interference" - and in Europe.
The Premier then shoots the most fiery arrow, the one on Russiagate, on which the League has never wanted to clarify anything: “You should have come to Parliament and clarify the Russian affair, also for its international implications. If you had come to the Senate to answer, you would have prevented me from appearing in your place without even sharing your information ”. There is also no shortage of criticism of the deputy premier's attitudes during rallies: “Respect for institutions cannot be improvised. Whoever has responsibility should not associate religious symbols with his political activity in rallies. It is religious recklessness that offends the feelings of believers".
"The current crisis compromises the action of this government which stops here – said Conte -. But we must move forward, there is a great need for Politics with a capital P, we must plan for the future, offer opportunities to our young people, who must be held back and not forced to leave the country".
The Premier's speech was followed by a long applause from the ministers and senators of the M5S, but also from some members of the Democratic Party. The ministers of the League remained motionless. In the final reply Conte then increased the dose by charging Salvini with signing the crisis but accusing him of "not having the courage to take responsibility for it".
