All 'assembly of Assonime, the umpteenth replica of the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, of a theatrical piece based on the optimism of half-truths set in an imaginary world was staged. The president of the Association of joint-stock companies, Innocenzo Cipolletta, had summed up the clear and clear message of the companies in three NOs: we must not leave the euro, we must not quarrel with Europe, we must not bring in the Troika because of the violation of the rules. The time has come to implement a realistic policy and this not only and not so much because Brussels is asking us to do so, but because otherwise the financial markets will impose ever higher prices on us to finance our public debt and private investments, aggravating the general crisis.
Prime Minister Conte and Economy Minister Tria replied that there is nothing to worry about, that Italy has a solid economic structure and that they intend to go and explain our reasons to Brussels, and that in any case it is our firm intention to honor the commitments made in December both for the deficit and for the debt. In other words, a repayment plan will be prepared and guaranteed for both that will ensure a gradual reduction of the annual deficit towards zero and of the debt towards safe levels.
But both Conte and Tria have not explained how they intend to achieve these positive results. Indeed, Conte has claimed the title of "government of change" for his executive, defending the things done so far which, in his opinion, have gone in the direction of stimulating growth by restoring citizens' confidence, and in particular those most affected by the crisis, towards the State and its ability to return to levels of development and employment suited to our needs. But no one has made even the slightest hint of self-criticism on the effects of the measures adopted so far, measures which have led to an increase in spreads of more than one percentage point, a freeze on productive investments by businesses, and a standstill in consumption given that in a situation of uncertainty, prudent Italians tend to save rather than consume.
A government that aimed to grow more pushed us instead towards a recession which then, at the beginning of this year, it has become a sad stagnation, but this does not mean that we can rejoice in affirming that we have come out of the crisis. And it can't just be the economic slowdown in Europe that is to blame, given that we are the worst off of all. A responsibility must therefore also be attributed to government measures, and not only the 100 quota, and basic income, but also to the blocking of public works, the stop to drilling and oil investments in Basilicata, the new taxes on "polluting" cars , placed in an at least untimely manner, etc. etc.
Furthermore, it is not clear how we will be able to reconcile the new expenses for the flat tax wanted by Salvini for next year, with the sterilization of VAT and the other current needs of the state. And if this uncertainty does not melt away interest rates are unlikely to fall and the hoped-for recovery of the economy will be possible. Indeed, if we continue to play with Minibots or with the minimum income, even that residual credibility and trust that we still enjoy because we are the third largest country in Europe, runs the risk of disappearing completely.
Conte will go to negotiate in Brussels. But looking at the proposals of this government with realism and without preconceptions, it must be said that there is not a single sensible idea circulating in the heads of the Pentaleghist ministers and parliamentarians. Minibots, for example, are either a joke, a tool of mass distraction, or they are the first step to take us out of the euro. In the first case we will continue along the slope of the progressive loss of credibility, in the second we will fall directly into a deep ravine. The minimum wage should be studied well because it could also have positive effects for our labor market, but if we do it in a hurried and botched way, as we did with the basic income, then we could have devastating effects for our businesses, especially small ones, and for the workers who will be forced to accept an illegal salary if they want to continue working.
So far this "government of the people" obtained results opposite to those desired, demonstrating that the promises made during the electoral campaign, if not implemented in such a way as to reconcile them with reality, are written on water. Now Conte promises phase two. But there are strong doubts whether it is better than one. Indeed, hearing what the two real prime ministers are saying on social networks, it could be worse.
