The Italians responded with a mixture of anger, bewilderment and calls for the entire government to be thrown out after the country plunged into political chaos once again.
The government led by Giuseppe Conte is on the verge of collapse after former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi withdrew his small Italia Viva party from the governing coalition. Renzi said that his party is not to blame for the triggering of the crisis, but that it has lasted for months. He argued that his ministers showed courage in leaving office and attributed his departure to the way the government dealt with the coronavirus pandemic and the weak strategy to rebuild the tattered economy.
But many Italians do not see things the same way. In an Ipsos poll on Wednesday, 73% said it was not the time for a political crisis and believed that Renzi was only pursuing his own interests.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic. Now is not the time to add to the problems, ”said Carlo Gerardi, manager of a hospitality company. “This is going to block everything – a lot of companies are struggling without financial support and people are losing their wages.”
Renzi’s action leaves Conte’s coalition, formed by the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD), without a parliamentary majority. As of Thursday afternoon, the prime minister had not indicated his next step. He could offer his resignation to the president, Sergio Mattarella, who could give him a mandate to try to forge a new alliance, or go to parliament for a vote of confidence. But if he chooses the latter, it is unclear whether he will get enough support to fill the gap left by the 18 Italia Viva senators. Other possible results include Mattarella gathering a broad-based national unity government or, failing that, calling elections.
Gerardi believes that the government should continue with Conte. “So when the pandemic is over and we see signs of economic recovery, they can do whatever they want.”
Tiziana Nicolisi, owner of a bar in Rome, said: “Renzi made a mistake and many people think so, especially with hundreds of coronavirus deaths a day.”
But some support the maneuver. Renzi’s main complaint was about Conte’s spending plans for the € 223 billion (£ 198 billion) that Italy is likely to receive in EU loans and subsidies to restart its economy, arguing that the money is in danger of being wasted on donations rather than invested wisely. His suggestions were accepted and the recovery plan was amended and approved by the cabinet on Tuesday evening.
Although Renzi said the new plan was a “step forward”, it was not enough to change his mind. He also reiterated his complaint that Italy did not take advantage of the EU’s rescue fund – the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) – to strengthen the health service. The M5S, the largest ruling party, has always resisted this for fear that it would leave Italy subject to the EU’s strict austerity rules.
“In the original plan, there were no investments in the economy, just money being donated,” said Arianna Bocchino, a supporter of Italia Viva. “Renzi had to push and push to make it better. This coalition is unable to manage money well and they don’t want to listen. “
Since the Italian republic was founded in 1946, Italy has had 67 governments.
Renzi, who led Italy between 2014 and 2016, actually orchestrated the coalition led by Conte between the PD and the M5S after the collapse of the coalition government of the M5S and the far right League of Matteo Salvini in August 2019. He then left the PD to establish Italia Viva, a centrist force that, he said, “would do politics differently”.
Italia Viva, M5S and PD would probably be trampled on if a national vote was held soon. The opposition, which is formed by the League, its far-right companion, Brothers of Italy, and Forza Itália by Silvio Berlusconi, could guarantee more than 50% of the votes.
For Alessandro Urlandi, owner of a store in Rome, a new government is needed. “I am completely sick of it. This lot has no idea. “