Conte at the Festa del Fatto Quotidiano: “Court of parliamentarians? It does not affect the functionality of the Chambers. I like the principle of preferences”

The court of parliamentarians? “It is a constitutional reform voted by the overwhelming parliamentary majority that does not affect the functionality of Parliament.” The new electoral law? “I like the preference system.” The next regional elections? “They will not affect the government. But the fight is unequal: the center-right united and the majority go in no particular order. Finally, the opening to a second quarter in the Colle for Sergio Mattarella: “If the conditions existed, also from his point of view, to accept a second term, he would see it very well.” The first Minister Giuseppe Conte, I participate in the Daily reality party in Rome, where he was interviewed by Peter gomez me Antonio Padellaro.

The phone call with Berlusconi – “I called Berlusconi the night I found out I had contracted the virus,” he began by answering a question from Peter Gomez. “It was a short phone call. It was a very friendly and courteous exchange. I offered him best wishes for a speedy recovery. When a person is hospitalized, she refrains from personal considerations ”. An opinion on De Benedetti? It is true that he even expresses harsh criticism of the prime minister. The prime minister is right to refrain from commenting on the work of an entrepreneur. “

The minutes of the scientific-technical committee – So, when asked about the publication of the minutes of the Scientific technical committee, said: “When making very important decisions regarding social alarm, it is good that you work confidentially, but not secretly. The fact that the minutes have been kept confidential does not mean that they have been classified, so much so that we have made them public. The omissions? A technical fact. It is usually for the protection of privacy, but the offices have taken care of it ”. Did you speak with President Mattarella about the closure decision? “Obviously yes, and with all the ministers,” replied the prime minister.

Relations with institutions – Regarding relations with the opposition, he said: “When we talk about the opposition we are talking about three center-right parties with exponents of different temperaments. With Fi the dialogue is constant and very institutional and respect for roles, with Meloni too. With Salvini, on the other hand, when I leave a message, they don’t call me back… ”.

contagion – On the growth of infections, Conte said: “Yesterday the historical record of infected was announced because it is a record number of tampons: I do not know that other countries have reached the same threshold. The thing is physiological. The increase in infections comes from Augusto’s contacts. But the Italians were responsible and conscientious. When I talk about Italy I get excited: Italy is doing things that other countries are not doing: we have a very sophisticated monitoring system. We are able to know not only the trend of the curve, but also the criticality of the system. We compare them. By updating this system, we can face the fall with confidence, because we will not be in a position to organize a generalized blockade. We will selectively intervene in limited areas. “How many vaccines are available?” I can’t answer. We are certainly increasing significantly the tests that cost and should be accessible to all. We have also invested many billions in vaccine research. Italy is among the first EU countries to participate in the most important research projects ”.

Me – Conte also spoke about whether or not to resort to the Month, or to the so-called state rescue fund: “The Minister of Health did not tell me that we need more money for medical care. As for Month, we should not think that by asking for this money for health we spend it all there. I have a secular attitude: if we need more money for health, we will discuss it in Parliament“.

School – Then, the premier addressed the subject of school and the upcoming back to school scheduled for next week. On the 2.4 million new positions “we have carried out European tenders with penalties for delivering them. If the companies do not deliver they will not respect a contract and we will ask for penalties ”.

Referendum – Regarding the appointment of the next referendum on the reduction of parliamentarians: “This is a constitutional reform that has been voted by the overwhelming parliamentary majority,” he said. “At this point I would say that it is only a matter of evaluating, obviously each citizen will evaluate their opinion. The opinion of the Prime Minister is that it goes from 945 to 600 deputies the functionality of the Cameras is not compromised. I speak very frankly, spending less is fine, but when it comes to constitutional bodies, there are not 50 or 60 million more a year ”that make the difference. “But the thesis according to which going from 965 to 600 deputies reduces the functionality of Parliament seems to me quite abstruse”, in fact “I am one of those who believe that those who will be elected with the new rules will be able to feel even more the weight of representation and hence that discipline and honor. It works like this everywhere. “

Electoral law – In this regard, Gómez asked the prime minister to comment on the possibility of introducing preferences in the next electoral law: “The electoral law must be adapted to what could be the post-referendum context. In the first place, I expect an electoral law like the one resulting from the majority agreement: I really like constructive mistrust. If it’s about preferences, I don’t see it as negative, it would come later. In the past we have had electoral exchanges, patronage, there have been distortions, but I like the principle of preferences ”.

Reopening – “The government has never opened up to discos, contrary to what has been said. Then the regions reopened them. In the stadium, the meeting is inevitable, inside, as well as entering and leaving: the opening is inappropriate ”. Then, to the covid deniers who will demonstrate today in Rome, he said: “We want to manage an ongoing pandemic. Today there is a demonstration in Rome of people who think it does not exist. We answer them with numbers ”.

Draghi – “When a new EU commission was drawn up, Timmermans was first proposed but in the end it didn’t work out. Immediately afterwards, I myself tried to create a consensus for Draghi, I would have seen him well as President of the EU Commission. I met him because I did not want to waste his name in vain, but he told me that he did not feel available because he was tired of his European experience ”. Thus, regarding his relationship with the former president of the ECB, Conte commented: “Draghi I think that when you invoke him you pull him by the jacket. I don’t see him as a rival. He is a person of value, an excellence expressed by the country in the roles he has covered ”.

Regional – “My appeal was misunderstood by someone and I’m sorry. I did not indicate candidates in the Regions but I asked for dialogue: it was a call for dialogue between majority forces that are now undergoing a national government operation. That dialogue had to be done and done. A continuity of this experience at the territorial level is desirable. The direction of travel must be that. No one should refuse to sit around a table ”. Then Padellaro asked if at this moment “there is a Conte party to join”: “Conte’s party project doesn’t even exist... ”, replied the prime minister. “I see the forces of the majority in difficulty: we have a united center-right, instead, we have forces that support the majority that are not in any particular order. This fact must be taken into account, it is an unequal fight. I believe that regional governments are not going to have an impact on the government, it is a different context, we cannot abandon the Recovery Fund ”.

Single network – “The single network will be an open and inclusive infrastructure: we want everyone to participate in a project that I want to be carried out in three or four years. In the Italian recovery plan it is very important to pursue the specific objective of the ultra-wideband as soon as possible. Tim is on the list, but he found the government’s project compelling. ” Regarding the EU ruling on the Vivendi case, he commented: “We read the EU Court ruling carefully. It will reasonably impose on us an intervention in the Gasparri law“.

Secret services – “I cannot be neutral in the services: I have the responsibility to choose the directors, it is my political responsibility. I took the dossier in hand, but we have not extended the maximum duration of directors. I just said you only need to renew senior management once creates problems for the current prime minister and to those who will come. Some parliamentarians misinterpreted, there was a communication deficit: someone wrote to me that he was signing without being clear about what he was signing.