Italy will try to form a government of technocrats

The Italian president Sergio Mattarella asked Monday the economist Carlo Cottarelli to form a government of technocrats, after being himself opposite with the formation of a government Eurosceptic.

The Italian president decided to be opposed Sunday evening to the candidate chosen by the two parties as Minister of Economy, putting an end to what could have become the first populist government of Western Europe. Its decision dipped back Italy in a new cycle of political uncertainty, more than two months after the elections which did not make it possible to obtain a majority at the Parliament.

Carlo Cottarelli, 64 years, old high ranking official of the Funds international currency (the IMF) is called “Mr. Ciseaux” for his role in the reduction of the public expenditure in 2013-2014. He thus takes over, after the spectacular veto of Mr. Mattarella to an executive combining the Movement 5 stars (M5S, antisystème) and the League (far right) without warranty of the maintenance of Italy in the euro.

The approach was not enough to reassure the financial markets: Milan Stock Exchange enclosed in fall of 2.09%. The spread, the variation very followed to Italy between the rates of loan at ten years German and Italian, leaped at 235 points, its more high level since November 2013.

Current director of the Observatory of the public accounts, Mr. Cottarelli promised to present “very quickly” his government before presenting itself before the Parliament. He does not have however almost any chance to obtain confidence there: the M5S and the League, majority, are fiercely against its nomination.

If ever it obtained confidence – that only the Democratic party (PD, centre left) seems laid out to vote –, Mr. Cottarelli wants to make adopt the budget 2019 before anticipated elections at the beginning of next year. If the Parliament rejects it, it will be satisfied to manage go concerns until elections “after August”.

“All that is not the democracy, it is not the respect of the popular vote. It is only the last sudden start of the strong powers which want Italy slave, impoverished and precarious”, rose Matteo Salvini, the owner of the League.

Mr. Di Maio estimated that the decision of president Mattarella was “the darkest moment of the history of the Italian democracy”.

Mr. Di Maio invited his partisans to mobilize himself while placing a tricolour with their window and to gather in Rome on June 2nd, holiday national and of military parade in the capital.

He repeated that he hoped on the support of the League – which did not decide – to obtain the dismissal of Mr. Mattarella. This parliamentary procedure is not however only open in the event of “high treason” or of “attack” to the Constitution on behalf of the Head of the State.

For the moment, the surveys evoke stable voting intentions for the M5S, which had obtained more than 32% of the voices in March. They would be in clear rise for the League, which turns from now on around 22% after obtained 17% in March within the coalition of right–hand side.

The former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi declared himself ready to stand as a candidate to the next legislative elections within the framework of the same block of centre right which gained 37% of the voices on March 4th.

Mr. Berlusconi also affirmed that the elected officials of its Forza Italia party would not support a technocratic government directed by Carlo Cottarelli.

A judgment for tax evasion prevented Mr. Berlusconi, who was Prime Minister during three constituents, from standing as a candidate in March. A court of Milan however judged this month that it was now eligible.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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