A temporary government? Certainly it must last until the end of the legislature, the spring of 2013. And the presence of politicians in the new Executive? "A wish", but "it is not essential". Thus spoke (finally) Mario Monti in the evening, after a day of uncontrolled rumors around the ongoing negotiations to draw up his list of ministers.
And at the end of a difficult day for the markets, which started much better than it ended: on the stock market but also for government bonds: the signal that Monti alone is not enough to restore confidence in Italy. We need, in fact, a government, possibly sheltered from the pitfalls of the parties: that can last. And the president of Bocconi underlined that «politics can transform this difficult moment into an opportunity». Not only that: «With the reforms, Italy will be able to play a leading role».
Let's get to the point. The time horizon for a possible Monti government "is that of the end of the legislature, spring 2013". "It is clear - he specified - that the Parliament can decide at any moment that it no longer enjoys its trust, but I have represented to all the political forces that the management of this phase in the direction of growth and equity goes far beyond beyond that horizon". "If a date were set this side of spring 2013, - he reiterated - this would take away the credibility of the Government's action and it would be a temporal definition that I would not accept".
In short, Monti does not compromise on this. Deadline next spring to then go to early elections? It's not even talked about. On the other hand, on the presence of party representatives in his Executive, he spoke of a "desire", but specified that "it is not an indispensable condition". In this regard, the differences remain strong within the PDL, still in shock at the end of the Berlisconi era. Altero Matteoli and Fabrizio Cicchitto have said they are against the entry of politicians into the Executive: they only want technicians. While the blue pidiellini insist on the presence of a guarantor, as could be Gianni Letta.
Monti's consultations, in any case, will continue tomorrow as well. His government should be limited to twelve ministers. And the list, hopefully, should be ready tomorrow evening. The negotiations go on. On the razor's edge.
