The clash over Silvio Berlusconi's decadence from the Senate is still the leitmotiv of Italian politics. And while the works in the Giunta continue, the controversies about the next vote in the Chamber are already mounting: secret or open? Meanwhile, there are rumors about the possible resignation of the Knight, who would aim to be one step ahead. Furthermore, today the former Premier could broadcast a video message to officially relaunch Forza Italia, but there is also talk of a second episode to be published in the coming days to attack opponents and at the same time confirm trust in the Letta government.
THE COUNCIL
The Junta for elections and immunities of Palazzo Madama continues today the general discussion on the forfeiture of the Cavaliere from the office of senator after the definitive conviction for tax fraud, as prescribed by the Severino law. “This morning, with the last nine speeches, we will conclude the general discussion – said the president of the council, Dario Stefàno (SEL) -. The calendar does not change, the vote is scheduled for tomorrow evening ”.
The senators will express themselves on the report by Andrea Augello (PDL), who proposes to confirm - at least for the moment - the election of Berlusconi. The rapporteur would like the Giunta to ask the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Justice for an opinion on the Severino law and wait for the response before expressing itself on the exclusion of the former Premier from Parliament.
Augello's proposal will certainly be rejected (Pd, M5S and SC, in favor of decadence, have the majority in the Giunta with 13 votes out of 23). At that point Stefàno will have to identify a new rapporteur (probably he will nominate himself) and convene, after an interval of ten days, the public session to "protest" the parliamentary office, in which Berlusconi himself or his lawyers will be able to present new reasons against the decadence. Then the Council will meet in chambers to deliberate and will pass the procedure to the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso, who will have to schedule the vote in the Chamber. The assembly of Palazzo Madama is entrusted with the last word, a final act which should take place in mid-October.
THE VOTE OF THE CLASSROOM: SECRET OR CLEAR?
The Senate regulation provides that a vote of this type takes place by secret ballot, but there are already those who are asking to change the rules to prevent the Knight from being favored by any doves protected by anonymity. "The secret ballot can hide some political force that today stands as a champion of legality and then in the secret of the ballot box can play some strange trick and make it fall back on the Democratic Party", said the democratic senator Stefania Pezzopane.
The grillini will present a bill today to amend the regulation. Grasso is not against it at all: "If there is the possibility of changing the regulation and the political forces can find the strength to change it, it will not be the president of the Senate who will prevent it".
BERLUSCONI'S VIDEO MESSAGES
The countdown has started for the video message in which Berlusconi relaunches his ancient creature, Forza Italia, and reiterates that he intends to "stay on the field" to continue "the battle for freedom". According to the latest rumors, the video should be delivered today to Tg1, but it probably won't be an isolated intervention.
There is also talk of a second video message that the Knight could spread after the vote of the Giunta. A new episode in which the former Premier will defend himself in the eyes of public opinion by attacking his alleged persecutors – magistrates and Pd in the first place – but also confirming his support for the Letta government out of a "sense of responsibility towards the country". And it is not excluded that, at that point, the Knight could play in advance, choosing the path of early resignation to avoid the humiliation of voting in the Chamber.
READ AND NAPOLITAN
Meanwhile, yesterday evening, from the studios of Porta a Porta, the Premier lashed out against those who still question the stability of the majority: "Neither I nor the President of the Republic will be the lightning rods that keep the whole system standing - thundered Letta – In recent days, the level of political confrontation has risen, but if the situation worsens, I'm ready to resign. I call everyone to a responsibility that the country asks of us. With three or four poles, going to the vote with this electoral law means reconfirming in the Senate in a situation of impasse”.
A position shared by Guglielmo Epifani: “We have supported this government with conviction, because there are no alternatives – said the secretary of the Democratic Party -. The economic and social situation is still tough and whoever pulls the plug on the government is actually pulling the plug on the country, which does not deserve to go back. It takes strong nerves and consistency”.
