The new Italian government of populists and social Democrats is confirmed on Monday and Tuesday by the Parliament. The coalition survived perhaps longer than you think, says Italy-expert Lutz Klinkhammer.
Giuseppe Conte – old as well as new Prime Minister
The strongest party in the Italian Parliament, the populist 5-star, and the second-placed social Democrats form the new government in Italy. The right-wing Lega of the previous interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, has been boots. The wanted new elections, with the collapse of the coalition, but he failed. Lutz Klinkhammer, Italy expert at the German historical Institute in Rome, thinks that the new left-wing government is not only eight months, such as Matteo Salvini hopes, but maybe several years by keeps.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Klinkhammer, the new Alliance is mainly to prevent Salvini as head of government. 2018 in March, Italy has chosen the last Time. At the time, left-wing and right-wing populists joined forces completely by surprise the most. It is now Koaltion together, which was actually chosen already?
“The majority of voters had not hoped for an Alliance with the social Democrats, the came but. This unnatural formation of a government between the Lega Salvini’s and the 5 stars is also been referred to as the ‘Dracula-coalition’. It was certainly not the wish of the majority of the voters in the past year, but even worse would have been considered a dissolution of Parliament and new elections. So now is the constellation, which has been prevented in the last year.”
Lutz Klinkhammer: The Italian System is “elastic”
How long this new Alliance will hold up the rail, Yes, weeks ago still unthinkable? 2023 the next regular election date would be. Prior to that, the Parliament of 2022, has to choose a new President. You can prevent off for a long time?
“The Italian parliamentary System has proved that once its elasticity. It is a new government, without that there has been new elections. Salvini’s Lega remained at 17 percent in Parliament. If there are no elections, then it remains so. Salvini’s Power will be limited. He only has a chance if there are new elections. The other players know, of course, in this piece also. So everything is going to be trying to avoid a government crisis and new elections. Even if the government should not hold, then it is not said that there must be new elections, but it would be a government reshuffle or a restyling possible.”
The rights of Ex-Minister of the interior, but only knew a topic, the exclusion of migrants through a closure of the ports, and put an end to the search and rescue. Now a non-political officer, Luciana Lamorgese has taken over the Ministry. The refugee policy change?
“I can well imagine that the criminalisation of rescue will disappear, but that does not mean that the ports be re-opened. The new government has, quite deliberately, I think, a Technokratin, an expert for the Post of interior Minister, sought to calm the office. Salvini has a very strong election campaign for this office. Here you want to return back to normal work. The means of securing the national security of Italy. Not that it would be endangered by the migrants, but they also want to demonstrate to the EU that it stands as the only Land available to refugees.”
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Italy’s new Cabinet sworn in
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Italy: is an end to the conflicts with the EU in sight?
The old and the new government in Italy, makes many promises and does not want to spend the money it has. The EU criticized the management of the budget in Rome. What is 5 star and the social Democrats now expect from Brussels?
“Certainly in Italy a certain elasticity of the new EU Commission President, which is not been chosen with the votes of the 5 stars. That was basically the first Signal of the collapse taken in the government Alliance between the Lega and 5 stars. The need for austerity and fiscal rescue will continue to exist. The only way that promises success and is cost-effective, is the removal of bureaucratic barriers, a tightening of controls in the tax area, and the digitization of the administration, which should also lead to higher tax revenue. Big promises you will not be able to make. I could imagine that the generous measures of the last government, such as the early retirement scheme, could soon tilt back.”
Of the old coalition between Matteo Salvini of the Lega and Luigi Di Maio of 5 stars very EU-critical tones. EU-skepticism has a certain Tradition in many previous governments. Brussels is mostly to blame. Will leave the new Italian team this Tradtion ?
Also, with the new Cabinet, caution is advised
“Of course, all Italian politicians must take care not to, that they come politically in the line of fire. Too great friendliness towards the EU could be interpreted by the Opposition as an unacceptable Yield. Therefore, all politicians are careful not to make strong concessions. Salvini said that the new government had been put together in Brussels, Berlin and Paris. These accusations is to try under all circumstances to eliminate. In this respect, you will be konzilliant in tone, but hard in the thing.”
Privatdozent Dr. Lutz Klinkhammer (58) is as a historian and political scientist at the German Historical Institute in Rome. His area of expertise is Italian contemporary history.
The conversation Bernd Riegert led.