RTMon, 21 May 2018 17:17 UTC
© picture-alliance/AP/A CarconiGiuseppi Conte
Leaders of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and its right-wing coalition ally Lega Nord have presented to Italian President Sergio Mattarella
their pick for prime minister - Giuseppe Conte.Mattarella must agree on their nominee, before the two parties can seek parliamentary approval for their emerging government. Following the meeting with the president, the PM nomination has been confirmed by the representatives of the parties.
Conte, a 54-year-old law professor, has been named as the candidate from the two parties. They have reached agreement upon the nominee following lengthy negotiations on Sunday.
"We are agreed on the head and the ministers of the government and we hope that no one will veto a choice that represents the will of the majority of Italians," Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini said on Sunday, describing the nominee as "a professional who contributed to the drafting of the contract" between the two parties.
Italian media correctly guessed their pick, also suggesting that Salvini himself is expected to lead the Interior Ministry, while Five Star Movement chief Luigi Di Maio is likely to become either economic development or labor minister.
Both the Five Star Movement and Lega Nord scored roughly a third of the votes during the March 4 general elections. The two parties were initially reluctant to engage in any coalition talks with each other. However, they have seemingly found a compromise since then, as early in May President Mattarella announced his intention to appoint a "neutral government," irrespective of the majority parties' opinion on each option.
The Five Star Movement and Lega Nord officially unveiled a joint policy program on Friday, paving the way to form the new government. The program focuses on solving domestic problems, namely the immigration and refugee issues, taxation and the social benefits system.
In addition, the document outlines Italy's foreign policy as focused on its national interests. This includes the call for immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia, which
"should not be perceived as a threat but as an economic and business partner," according to the government program.
Comment: Italy is having economic trouble and has taken a positive stance on Russia, sure signs its relations with the EU are on shaky ground. Will this nominee pick and potential restructure of the government strike a better chord?
From
Deutsche Welle:
Conte, who was born in the southern province of Foggia and has never been elected to parliament, comes from the M5S side of the coalition.
The now-likely coalition government in Rome made up of the M5S and League parties is on a possible collision course with other EU member states after it announced spending plans likely to increase the country's already towering public debt.
What is in the coalition deal? The two parties agreed to give monthly payments of at least €780 ($920) to Italians living below the poverty line. The deal also foresees a maximum individual tax rate of 15 percent, while business would pay 20 percent at most. The platform includes the introduction of tougher rules on deporting migrants and calls for fostering dialogue with Russia on economic and foreign policy matters.
Why is the EU concerned? Italy is the third-largest economy in the EU, but is running public debt of more than 130 percent of GDP- second only to Greece. Economists and EU policymakers worry that the spending plans contained in the coalition's program will increase the country's debt burden still further. The coalition is also at odds with the EU over its pro-Russian stance and over its euroskeptic attitude, reflected in League leader Matteo Salvini's "Italians First" motto.
In response to the bloc's concerns, M5S's Di Maio said "first let us govern, then you can legitimately criticize us."
From
The Duran:
The nomination presents yet another area in which to worry about possible dissension, as popular sentiment, as well as Italian public policy, are increasingly viewing the EU with a degree of distrust. With disparities in economic, security and foreign policy interests, Italy and the EU sit on opposing sides of the table.
The EU worries that Italy could be the next Greece, with threats of an EU exit or default on their debt, together with a refusal to abide by the bloc's policies on numerous issues, Italy acts as yet another centrifugal force within Western Europe.
Comment: Italy is having economic trouble and has taken a positive stance on Russia, sure signs its relations with the EU are on shaky ground. Will this nominee pick and potential restructure of the government strike a better chord?
From Deutsche Welle: From The Duran: