"The government has always understood the gravity of the moment and for this very reason it has never intended to proceed extemporaneously, improvised". Thus begins the information to the Chamber of the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, on the recovery of economic activities.
The Premier responds directly to the accusations rained down on the Government in the last few days regarding phase 2, making it clear that "a non-gradual and careless approach would lead to a resurgence of the infection". But this does not protect him from the ultimatum that the leader of Italia Viva addresses to him in the Senate: “I did not deny Salvini full powers, to give them to another. If you follow populism, Italia Viva will not be at his side ”
PHASE 2
From 4 May, Conte said, with the resumption of production activities, 4,5 million workers will return to work and based on the forecasts of scientists, nothing more could be done. “No country has reopened everything together. We cannot allow the efforts made to be in vain due to imprudence in this delicate phase. Any wavering attitude, such as moving from the "close everything" policy to "reopen everything" would risk irreversibly compromising these efforts. "I say it clearly, at the cost of appearing unpopular – continued Conte – The government cannot immediately ensure a return to normalcy. May 4th is the first fundamental and necessary step so that the whole country can set out on the path of conquering a peaceful life: this phase will be one of coexistence with the virus and not of liberation from the virus. We are still inside the pandemic, we have not come out of it ”.
However, if phase 2 does not bring with it an increase in infections, it will be possible to proceed with a further easing of the restrictions. “If the contagion curve does not grow in the next few days we will further ease the measures ensuring the safe opening of retail trade, catering and personal services”, anticipated the Premier.
DECISIONS ON SCIENTIFIC BASES
Conte then explained that he had decided the next steps solely and exclusively on the basis of the recommendations of the scientists: "I would say that the categorical imperative for a government called to face such a complex challenge, how to protect the lives of citizens in the face of such a threat concrete and lethal, is to base one's decisions not on the opinions, but on the recommendations - the result of thoughtful research and reflections - of qualified exponents of the scientific world". The “report of the scientific technical committee which is not secret and today it will be illustrated by Brusaferro in a press conference in the late morning", the Premier announced, responding indirectly to the deputy Maurizio Lupi who, before the information began, had requested to make available to the parliamentarians the health dossier on which the Government has decided on Phase 2 measures.
THE REOPENING OF CALABRIA
The premier does not directly mention the President of the Calabria Region, Jole Santelli, nor his ordinance which from today, April 30, reopens bars and restaurants with outside tables. Despite this, his words leave no room for doubt: “There will be no plan put back improvident initiatives of individual local authorities but based on scientific findings. Initiatives involving less restrictive measures are not possible, because they are in contrast with national rules, therefore they are to be considered illegitimate to all effects".
SEROLOGICAL TESTS
In May, the Premier announced, 150 serological tests will be carried out to try to better understand the impact of the virus on our country. The tests will be carried out on a sample of citizens selected by Istat.
THE IMMUNE APP
On the Immuni App, the Premier ensures the presence of legislative coverage and in particular of a "primary rank rule, Parliament can act". The decree approved by the Government aims to "clarify and strengthen the discipline of this particular processing of personal data, in line with what is specified by the data guarantor" "It is expected that the data controller", explained the Prime Minister, “both the Ministry of Health and that the application is installed on a voluntary basis, intended only for those who have downloaded it. The platform will operate in our national territory, entrusted to public companies or in any case with total public participation, and will be downloaded free of charge, using codes that will not allow the user's identity to be traced".
THE CONTROVERSY ON THE USE OF DPCMs
Conte responded to the accusations relating to the repeated use of the Prime Minister's Decrees (Dpcm) and in particular to the joint motion of the minority signed by the group leaders of Forza Italia. “The extent of the findings of the reserve of law and of the principle of legality that the Constitution places as a bulwark of the person cannot be overlooked. But those principles have not been neglected or weakened.” “On 31 January – he continued – a state of emergency of national importance was approved, from which precise legal consequences derive, as foreseen by the civil code. To this have been added two decree laws which offer legislative coverage”.
THE NEXT MOVE ON THE ECONOMY
In the next decree law, which the Government should approve by the end of the week, there are "15 billion for businesses“. The provision on economic measures “will resume all the provisions of Cura Italia, prolong and strengthen them. There will be 25 billion for job support and income support measures such as layoffs, compensation for domestic workers and carers".
THE ROLE OF CDP
“For medium-large companies, a significant intervention by CDP is being studied, with even temporary entry into the capital against debt"Said Conte.
“Advanced interventions are being studied for SMEs above a certain threshold partially absorb losses with public capital which can be transformed into non-repayable support through cash disbursements or tax breaks". In total, there will be 15 billion euros in favor of this measure. The government will envisage “recourse to simplified authorization procedures for a sample of works, it is a further guideline of action that we will already take in the next steps. A great role can be played by the coordinated action of large companies with public participation”.
THE OTHER MEASURES
“We will also give a recognition for the provinces most affected by Covid-19”. "12 billion will then be released for the Regions and local authorities", while great attention will be paid to the difficulties of the tourism sector, which is fundamental for our GDP: "For tourism, a particularly exposed sector, there will be support for tourism businesses and families under certain income thresholds with a bonus to be spent in the country's accommodation facilities".
Finally, interventions are being studied which will include a “strengthening tax deductions in favor of construction and sustainability. We are studying an articulated mechanism that allows citizens to benefit from discounts equal to the almost total cost of anti-seismic and energy efficiency works".
THE SPEECH IN THE SENATE
After speaking in the House, the Premier replied in the Senate. At the end of his speech Matteo Renzi intervened: “We say it to his face: we are at a crossroads. He was good at reassuring the Italians, he was very good. The point, however, is that in phase 2 of politics it is not enough to play on fear and concern. There is a reconstruction to be done that is devastating and will require vision and courageous choices. Take a closer look at the Istat data or we won't be at his side. If he chooses the path of populism, he will not have Italia viva by his side ”, said the senator of Italia Viva.
"Our country - continued Renzi - has had moments in which politics has abdicated its responsibilities". “We call you to have a broader look at the economic future. We will vote on the decree on liquidity prepared by Gualtieri but the world goes on and in the face of this, now is the time to act: prevent, not chase. Be more cautious when you speak to Italians: you said 'we consent' 11 times. A Prime Minister does not allow, because constitutional freedoms come before her. She does not allow them, she recognizes them. I denied Salvini full powers: I didn't do it to give them to others. The Coronavirus is a terrible beast that has killed 30 thousand people in the most cowardly way but we are not on the side of the Coronavirus when we say to reopen, we honor those dead. The people of Bergamo and Brescia who are no longer there, if they could speak they would tell us to reopen ". concluded Renzi.
