The party-free law professor Giuseppe Conte is to become new head of government in Italy. President Sergio Mattarella commissioned candidate of populist five-Star Movement as well as right-extremist Lega with formation of government. The decision was announced after a nearly two hour conversation between Contes and Mattarellas in Rome.
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Conte said he was aware of Italian commitments in Europe and world. He now wants to defend national interests at EU and international level as “Defender of Italian people”. His government will become a government of change. Italy is in a “delicate and difficult phase”. At same time, Conte said his country has its place in European Union and will cooperate with its international allies.
Conte must now draw up a list of ministers and submit m to Mattarella. The government n has to be confirmed by Parliament, where Lega and five stars have a majority.
For Italy, new government means a radical change: for first time, EU founding member will receive a European-critical government. The financial plans of two coalition parties are of great concern to observers: Although Italy is country with one of world’s highest sovereign debts, five stars and Lega are planning more spending. They want to lower taxes, introduce a basic income and lower retirement age.
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There are also fears that Conte, as a cross-entry into politics, could actually be controlled by party leaders Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini. After election on 4 March, both had claimed office of Head of government and agreed on lawyer after a weeks-long dispute.
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In Italian media it had been called before Conte’s meeting with Mattarella, head of State had reservations against lawyer who has never held a political office. He was worried about wher a coalition of populist five-Star Movement and xenophobic Lega would respect European commitments. If Mattarella had denied his consent, elections would have been in eurozone’s third-largest economy. Lastly, accusations had caused a stir, and Conte had made his CV beautiful.
The composition of cabinet is expected with suspense. For Ministry of Finance, euro and Germany critic Paolo Savona is traded. Lega chief Salvini will probably take over Ministry of Interior and want to implement a tough course on migration issues. Di Maio is acting as head of department in a kind of super Ministry of Labor and Economic development, where he could use heart project of stars, unconditional basic income.
With appointment of Contes, a month-long political hanging round ends. Since parliamentary election at beginning of March, re have been numerous attempts between different parties to form a coalition. The alternative would have been a transitional government appointed by President or a reelection.
In election, re had been a nationwide right back, but no clear winner: Europe-critical five-Star Movement became strongest party, but needs a partner to govern. The Centre-right Alliance for xenophobic Lega and conservative Forza Italia of controversial ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi came up with more votes. Because no camp had a sufficient majority for a government and various alliances were excluded from parties, formation of Government was extremely difficult.
