In the political confrontation for the formulation of the new electoral law “the Government will not be the protagonist: it is up to you ladies and gentlemen to promote initiatives and carry them forward. The government will urge this action because our system urgently needs firm and fully enforceable electoral rules." This is the appeal of the new prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni, in the keynote speech given to the Chamber on Tuesday morning. The deputies of the Movimento 5 Stella, the Lega and Ala were absent from the Chamber. This evening Parliament will vote on confidence in the new government.
“THE GOVERNMENT LASTS AS LONG AS IT HAS THE TRUST OF PARLIAMENT”
“I leave the debate on the duration of our government to the dialectic between the political forces – continued the new Prime Minister – As far as we are concerned, the Constitution applies: the government lasts as long as it has the trust of Parliament. The consultations highlighted the impossibility of a general convergence on this responsible government. We have taken note of it, we are proceeding within the framework of the previous majority and we hope that wider convergences can arrive on individual measures. But we will need a discontinuity at least on the public debate: the government does not distinguish between yes and no voters, addresses all Italian citizens, respects the opposition and asks for respect for the institutions. Who, like me, has always been animated by political passion, does not find himself in the degeneration of this passion. Parliament is the place for dialectical confrontation, not for hatred. Whoever represents the citizens must spread security, not fear. The government is committed to this and also asks the House for its trust in this ".
“WE WILL GUARANTEE THE STABILITY OF THE BANKS AND THE SAVINGS OF THE CITIZENS”
As for the priorities of the new executive, Gentiloni assured that “on the economic front, the government intends to strengthen the recovery, which is finally manifesting itself, albeit very slowly. We will accompany this process with investments in infrastructure, with the Industry 4.0 plan and giving new impetus to the green economy. In this context, we will also address the problems associated with our banking system, which as a whole is solid and is contributing to the recovery with loans to the real economy. We know that there are specific cases which, also due to inadequate or illegal conduct, require capital strengthening: I mean very clearly that the government is ready to intervene to guarantee the stability of institutions and the savings of citizens. I reiterate that Italy has a strong economy, which is not open to raids and which has denied the apocalypse prophecies that had been formulated in the event of this or that outcome of the referendum”.
“TWO BIG ISSUES TO ADDRESS: THE DISADVANTAGED MIDDLE CLASS AND THE SOUTH”
Furthermore, according to the new Premier, there are "two major questions on which we have not given fully sufficient answers: first of all, the problems of the most disadvantaged part of our middle class, which must be at the center of our efforts to restart the economy, and I'm talking about both employees and VAT numbers. We must defend these underprivileged classes. And we must also do much more in the South: the decision to form a ministry explicitly dedicated to the South as well as territorial cohesion must not make one think of past logics. The awareness that the strongest push for the growth of our economy can come from the South is still insufficient”.
THE REFORMS TO BE CARRIED OUT
On the social level, Gentiloni said that the government will aim to “complete the labor reform and implement the rules on the procedures for pension advances. Even in the area of rights, where much has been done, further progress can be made. We also want to give impetus to the reform of the public administration, the reform of the criminal trial and the defense white paper".
“I CLAIM THE RESULTS OBTAINED BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT”
What is preparing to ask for Parliament's trust, explained the Prime Minister, “is a government of responsibility which guarantees the stability of our institutions. We will concentrate all our energies on the problems of the Italians. The political profile is inscribed in the framework of the majority which supported the previous government and which has not failed. For some it is a limit: I claim it, as I claim the results obtained in recent years, of which we are proud and which do credit to the majority who supported them. I won't hide from you that the government was born in a new context, created by the rejection of the referendum on the constitutional reform and by the consequent decision to resign by President Renzi. This choice was not obligatory, but it had been announced by Renzi in recent months and having made it was an act of coherence which, in my opinion, all Italians who care about the dignity of politics should greet with respect".
“THE NUMBER ONE EMERGENCY IS THE INTERVENTION IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE”
As regards the more urgent situations to be faced, Gentiloni gives priority “to intervention in the areas affected by the earthquake. We had an extraordinary response in the emergency, but we are still in an emergency and the quality of the future of a significant part of central Italy will depend on the quality of the reconstruction. The strength of the program that we have defined Casa Italia and which seeks to work on the root causes of the damage caused by seismic events depends on these steps that we will take".
RELATIONS WITH USA AND EU
The Government will also immediately get to work “on the international scene – assured the Premeir – In a couple of weeks Italy will join the United Nations Security Council and assume the rotating presidency of the G7. We will do so at a time characterized by particular uncertainty, at the same time as the American transaction, which will close on January 20th. I take this opportunity to confirm that we are willing to collaborate with the USA, which has always been our main allies".
The commitment will be particularly relevant “in the context of the EU and I think it is important to participate from Thursday in the European Council with Italy fully represented. We will have very important issues on the agenda, such as the discussion on the Dublin regulation, which concerns the initial reception of refugees and migrants. On this issue we will very clearly support our reasons: it is not acceptable, and even less in a possible reform of this regulation, that the principle of a Europe that is too strict on some aspects of the austerity policies and too tolerant of the countries who do not agree to share responsibility for migrants".
