Sergio Mattarella during his first term he performed a decisive role from 2018 onwards, when, after political elections on March 4, it seemed that the institutions, the traditional alliances of Italy, his stay in the European Union and in the single currency were destined to succumb, overwhelmed by thesuper-populist wave that was prevailing in our country and spreading throughout the Old Continent, along the same drift taking place in the USA. Mattarella, correctly making use of the powers attributed by the Constitution to the President of the Republic, he was able not only to resist, but to counter, even in the most difficult moments, the landslide that was announced, gradually bringing the policy of the executive (Conte 1 himself) back to positions compatible with the set of commitments undertaken.
The effects of the re-election on the Draghi government
Her re-election to the Quirinal (for a second term which this time will last seven years), despite the difficult conditions in which it took place, it certainly is an element of stability and guarantee against any possible adventure. The government of Mario Draghi – under the cover of a now stronger presidency of the Republic – can then arrive at end of term carrying forward – even if the current year has the turbulence of the next political elections in sight – the implementation of the PNRR: a task that is proving to be increasingly complex than expected, not only due to the delays in grounding the floor, but above all because a significant change in the economic cycle is announced (the crisis of energy, raw materials, services, traffic, the increase in inflation, etc.) which could lead the international community to revision of a monetary policy based, to unprecedented levels, on the deficit spending anddebt increase.
Some observations on the speech on the day of the oath
Youth and precariousness
However, since Italy is not yet an elective constitutional monarchy, it is permitted - si parva licet - to express respectful observations on some parts of the speech - overall valuable and acceptable - of the Head of State on the occasion of the oath. Some passages have seemed questionable to the writer (after all, this has also been noticed by others). I am referring, for example, to the passage on young people as usual associated with precariousness: "Many, too many young people are often forced into precarious and poorly paid jobs, when not confined (sic! ed) in existential suburbs".
Inequalities
Then the speech addressed the question of inequalities, “which are not the price to pay for growth. Rather, they are the brakes on any real growth prospects”. To ears accustomed to political debate, these statements appear consistent with widespread analyzes such as those reaffirmed by Maurizio Landini in his report to the conference on the organization of the CGIL underway in Rimini: “It has been led to believe that by lowering the bar of rights, growth and development will resume. Not only did this not happen, but it only worsened working conditions”.
The “supranational economic powers”
But a particular passage raised some questions: when Sergio Mattarella evoked, in harsh tones, the "supranational economic powers that tend to prevail and impose themselves, bypassing the democratic process“. It is a phrase that recalls controversies waged for decades by social and political forces which attribute a negative impact on workers' rights and European welfare systems to the processes of globalization and internationalization of the economy. Perhaps that is why, from good sources, it was subsequently leaked that Mattarella he was referring to the multinationals of the web.
Well, but the judgment might seem excessive even in this case. However, the interpretations could be different, in the use of that phrase by certain political and social forces that have a Manichaean vision of the current global economic order. In Italy we have had a hint of it recently in the case of some disputes relating to the choices of some multinational companies interested in relocation (which then in some cases did not happen): choices that an attempt was made to contrast not with alternative and convenient economic-productive proposals, but with sanctions that will end up discouraging foreign investments. On the contrary, it sometimes seemed that this was the priority objective to be achieved (see the example of the Gkn), even before saving jobs.
The role of multinationals in Italy
The fact is that the role of multinationals in our country is important. testifies to theIstat in his recent Business Report after the Covid-19 health emergency: “The international dimension – it is written – is confirmed as an important factor for the stability of companies; and the recovery is in fact more widespread among those belonging to multinational groups”.
Focusing attention on units with at least 100 employees, the share of Italian or foreign multinationals reporting an increase in turnover in the period June-October 2021 rises to 59,1% and 56,4% respectively, compared with 45,8% of companies belonging to domestic groups and 41,7 .XNUMX% of companies not belonging to groups (independent). The performance of multinationals with summit in Italy operating in commerce and industry in the strict sense, of which more than two thirds declare an increase in sales (66,5% in commerce and 63,7% in industry in the strict sense). Usually a company that increases its turnover (and perhaps also its profit, which for some trade unionists evokes the devil's dung) does not fire, but hires.
