Last evening, the President of the Republic Mattarella has released a message to Italians, a much-needed morale booster, together with the public Pope’s prayers, after days of growing logistical, economic and epidemiological difficulties in Italy. President Mattarella remembered all the victims and praised the relentless work of the medical staff, police officers, soldiers and workers in essential industries. He praised the significant steps made by the ECB and the European Commission while highlighting the deficiencies of the European Council composed by National Heads of States/Governments. Mattarella expressed deep worry for people who are experiencing uncertainty, hoping a cooperation at EU and national level to work on socio-economic recovery. At the political level, this has been a day of disappointment for the limited results of the European Council (EUCO). Salvini, while praising the words

of Mattarella, acrimoniously attacked the European Council and he seemed to revamp EU-exit ideas. In the same tone, but without any references on leaving the EU, Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani.

 

Meanwhile, a “war room” between majority and opposition has been established. At the beginning of next week, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will meet the leaders of the center-right: Matteo Salvini, Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani. Based on what is learned, Minister Roberto Gualtieri would have briefed the oppositions during the first session of “war room” on the resources to allocate in the April Decree, estimated in more than 25 billions. Among the requests of the center-right, a double rapporteur - one from the majority and one from the opposition - to guarantee a common path. Sources believe that there should be no difficulties on this. And the opposition rapporteurs must have access to ministerial data to quantify the resources to be allocated to the various measures.

 

On the parliamentary floors, the League has announced amendments to Decree Cura Italia to extend the allowance of 600 euros to specific categories of autonomous workers who would have been excluded, such as commercial agents. Emma Bonino’s party Più Europa wants to increase the one-off contribution from 600 to 1200 euros and extend it to all the autonomous workers and temporary workers, and introduce support of up to 1,000 euros also for domestic workers and caregivers. More importantly, they want to use the 600 million allocated to Alitalia to support students instead of with a contribution to the rental of off-site and the purchase of laptops for schools. The total amount of amendments is expected to be around 1.100, except for Democrats, all Parties have presented more than 60, with League and Forza Italia with more than 200 proposals, the examination will start at Budget Commission of Senate on 1st April at 15.00.