“We vote in 2018 however the referendum goes”. This was stated by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi yesterday evening at the Caffè della Versiliana, raising doubts about his real intentions in the event of a victory for the No to the constitutional reform. In recent months, the Premier had reiterated several times that he will resign as head of government (but not as secretary of the Democratic Party) if the Italians reject the changes to the Charter. Yesterday's sentence, therefore, could allude to the possible creation of a new Executive to complete the legislature. Naturally, if it proves impossible to find a new majority in Parliament, the Head of State Sergio Mattarella will have to dissolve the Chambers.
As for the today's summit in Ventotene, “all Italians must be proud that, in a place that symbolizes a great ideal of Europe, Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande will come to relaunch the European Union from below”, added Renzi. During the meeting, international issues such as the migrant crisis and the fight against terrorism will be discussed, but it is probable that the Prime Minister will also take advantage of the opportunity to informally introduce the new request for flexibility that Italy will make at the EU on the 2017 accounts.
The Premier admitted that “the economy is not doing very well, the job market has restarted. I hope to reach one, one and two of GDP by the end of the year. But we need to restart investments: it's a matter of trust”. In any case, "the word austerity in Europe has only created damage".
Renzi then invited the president of the Anpi to a public debate on the referendum at the Unity Day. Finally, the Premier threw a dig at Massimo D'Alema: "It took him a tenth of the time to attack Berlusconi that he used to attack me...".