The meeting between the government and the social partners opened around 17.30 pm with the declaration on the unity of intent among the signatories of the growth pact, reaffirmed by the president of Confindustria Emma Marcegaglia. Berlusconi, not surprisingly, is in his place to chair the meeting. While the prime minister was flying back from Sardinia, the trade unions, industrialists and all the other subjects involved held a separate meeting to come to the table with a common position. Marcegalia was thus able to claim, on her way to Palazzo Chigi, that the agreement between the government's interlocutors had not failed, despite discounting the distinctions that had emerged in recent days.
"Since the last common table, facts have occurred that force us to reflect together," Berlusconi declared at the beginning, then assuring that the government in the meantime has not stood by and watched. Indeed, on those points on the agenda that have not been overcome by circumstances - continued the prime minister -, such as the amendment to articles 41 and 81 of the Constitution, "we are already moving forward".
The onerous commitments that the country has had to assume, such as bringing the balanced budget forward to 2013, are confirmed. "We will do everything quickly and well," reassured Berlusconi. Minister Tremonti spoke of the need to "restructure the manoeuvre", that is to say - specified the head of the Economy - that "the deficit-GDP ratio, at 3,8% this year, should drop between 1,5, 1,7% and 2013% the next, to break even in XNUMX”. Gianni Letta in particular underlined the seriousness of the situation – “In the last five days everything has gone downhill”, he said – announcing the start of a series of thematic tables for the next few days. “The first on the labor market will be chaired by Sacconi and Brunetta. The second on infrastructure from Matteoli and Romans”.
The unions, for their part, have confirmed the stakes already announced. "No to interventions on pensions, income from employment, health and assistance", declared the secretary of the CGIL, Susanna Camusso. "We need to ask more of those who have not given, intervening with a significant taxation on large estates, on tax evasion and on the costs of politics". Raffaele Bonanni, Cisl, underlined the need to act quickly, adding, on the measures to be adopted: “We need a tax reform based on justice and economy. And liberalisations: starting with local public services, to have good services and good prices”. While Luigi Angeletti, leader of the Uil, invited us to consider the exceptional nature of the times: “In these periods we can do things that have never been done in normal times. Therefore, the government should untie some knots and do so by giving a clear sign on the cuts in the costs of politics". Instead, Emma Marcegaglia's speech urges us to let the social partners regulate the matters that concern them. "On the issue of work - he pointed out - whatever you decide to do must remain available to the social partners, who have shown that they have taken important steps and are ready to take more".
