The waving of flags from the Northern regions celebrates in the chamberin Montecitorio, the approval of the law on differentiated autonomy. With 172 votes in favour, 99 against and one abstention, the provision wanted by the League, signed by the minister Roberto Calderoli, passes shortly after 7 in the morningat the end of the river session decided by the majority on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, amid protests from the opposition waving the Constitution and the tricolour.
“Historic day” he exults Matteo Salvini. «My legs are shakingis the culmination of years of political battle”, he gets emotional Calderoli. «Meloni bows to the blackmail of the League”throws Elly into the classroom SchleinPD secretary, still overshadowing the suspicion of the exchange between FdI and Northern League on the premiership and autonomy.
In the end the perfect synchrony between Autonomy and premiership, approved on Tuesday afternoon in the Senate, is completed with just 14 hours of time. Giorgia Meloni rejects the attacks of the degtheir opponents: «We make courageous reformswe are here to change the nation, while theThe opposition is always against». So the prime minister claims it: «A step forward is being taken towards a stronger and fairer Italy. Go on like this».
But not without friction. In fact, the Calabrian deputies of Forza Italia are not among the voters: «Autonomy deserved a further study, we exercised freedom of conscience”, they claim. The line, moreover, had been given by the president of the Calabria Region in an attempt to slow down the progress of the Northern League measure: Roberto Occhiuto, who Forza Italia he is deputy secretary, after the approval of the Chamber, confirms his doubts. He speaks of an “improved text” by his party, referring to only 4 agendas on the Lep (essential performance levels) accepted, currently under examination. A little little. As underlined on several occasions by the opposition, and as admitted by Calderoli himself, in the law there are not yet the resources to finance the Leps.
Also critical are the Lucanian Forzista governors, Vito Bardi, and the Sicilian, Renato Schifani. In short, Autonomy causes the controversy between Forza Italia and the League to boil over. As demonstrated by the rough response that the secretary of the Northern League gives to his ally: «Be careful, re-read the electoral program of the centre-right – this is Salvini’s hesitation -. Autonomy rewards merit. Those who are capable have nothing to fear.”
If it worries administrators and elected representatives from the South, the provision also raises concerns reactions in the Vatican. Secretary of State Pietro Parolin hopes that “it will not create further imbalances between one part of Italy and another”. The president of the CEI, Matteo Zuppi, was even harsher: «We said what we had to say about Autonomy – he says referring to the official document of the episcopal conference – but they didn’t take us seriously».
Meanwhile, however, the League can celebrate. And she does it in thefiery last mile of the session, the one dedicated to explanations of vote, in which the tension of days of very heated but monitored debate is released, after the brawl between deputies eight days ago. Hymns and waving banners clash in the chaotic finale. In the name of the pact, much criticized by the opposition, FdI joins: «With the premiership, citizens will choose who governs them, with Autonomy we will bring more efficiency to the Regions», summarizes Tommaso Foti. Who then addresses the opposition directly: «It was a necessary law, you have lost face». The governors of Veneto and Lombardy, Zaia and Fontana, announce that they will immediately request the devolution of matters for which it is not necessary to wait for the definition of the Lep.
If there were critical observations from the Northern League group leader Massimiliano Romeo regarding the premiership, the Forza Italia unease remains evident regarding Autonomy. And another majority front could open up shortly on justice: the Nordio bill which repeals the crime of abuse of office and cracks down on wiretapping, this being the flag of FI, arrives on the House floor Monday.
