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Italian Parliament Approves New Government, for Now Italian Parliament Approves New Government, for Now
(35 minutes later)
ROME — A week after Matteo Renzi resigned as prime minister of Italy, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni took his place, winning the support of both chambers of Parliament in back-to-back confidence votes on Tuesday and Wednesday. ROME — A week after Matteo Renzi resigned as prime minister of Italy, the former Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni took his place, winning the support of both chambers of Parliament in back-to-back confidence votes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Addressing lawmakers ahead of the votes, Mr. Gentiloni said that his government — deridingly described by the opposition as a “photocopy” of Mr. Renzi’s because nearly all the ministers were the same — would last “as long as it has the confidence of Parliament,” setting out an ambitious and wide-ranging agenda.Addressing lawmakers ahead of the votes, Mr. Gentiloni said that his government — deridingly described by the opposition as a “photocopy” of Mr. Renzi’s because nearly all the ministers were the same — would last “as long as it has the confidence of Parliament,” setting out an ambitious and wide-ranging agenda.
“Our work agenda will be crammed,” he said. Among his short-term priorities, he named supporting Italy’s ailing banking sector and assisting the population of central Italian towns ravaged by earthquakes this year. “Our work agenda will be crammed,” he said. Among his short-term priorities, he listed supporting Italy’s ailing banking sector and assisting the population of central Italian towns ravaged by earthquakes this year.
In the long term, the government would focus on Italy’s struggling southern regions, and improving the country’s economy. In a nod to the troubling unemployment rate, particularly in the south, “The priority of priorities is ‘work, work, work,’” Mr. Gentiloni told lawmakers in the lower house on Tuesday. In the long term, the government would focus on Italy’s struggling southern regions and on improving the country’s economy. In a nod to the troubling unemployment rate, particularly in the south, “The priority of priorities is ‘work, work, work,’” Mr. Gentiloni told lawmakers in the lower house on Tuesday.
But whether there would be a long term for his government was an open question.But whether there would be a long term for his government was an open question.
Days after Mr. Renzi, and his Democratic Party, suffered a humiliating defeat in a national referendum to change the Constitution, opposition parties were clamoring for new elections. Mr. Gentiloni’s support in Parliament could be tenuous, and could last only as long as the internal maneuvers in Italy’s quarrelsome political parties allow. Days after Mr. Renzi, and his Democratic Party, suffered a humiliating defeat in a national referendum to change the Constitution, opposition parties were clamoring for new elections. Mr. Gentiloni’s support in Parliament could be tenuous, and it could last only as long as the internal maneuvers in Italy’s quarrelsome political parties allow.
On Tuesday, Mr. Gentiloni easily won the vote in the lower house, with 368 votes in favor and 105 against, while his support in the 315-seat Senate on Wednesday was slimmer, with 169 senators in favor and 99 against, an early indicator of the rough road Mr. Gentiloni will have before him. On Tuesday, Mr. Gentiloni easily won the vote in the lower house, with 368 votes in favor and 105 against, while his support in the 315-seat Senate on Wednesday was slimmer, with 169 senators in favor and 99 against, an early indicator of the rough road before him.
Even with a government in place, the political uncertainty that followed Mr. Renzi’s resignation after electors resoundingly rejected his reforms last week has only barely abated. Political debate this week danced mostly around a single query: How long will the Gentiloni government last? Even with a government in place, the political uncertainty that followed Mr. Renzi’s resignation after voters resoundingly rejected his overhauls last week has only barely abated. Political debate this week danced mostly around a single question: How long will the Gentiloni government last?
“This is the big question, and frankly no one knows,” said Giovanni Orsina, a professor of contemporary history at Luiss University in Rome. “There is an enormous margin of ambiguity,” when it comes to the parties that could support the government, he said, describing “a variable geometry” of political forces with their own agendas. “This is the big question, and frankly no one knows,” said Giovanni Orsina, a professor of contemporary history at Luiss University in Rome. “There is an enormous margin of ambiguity” when it comes to the parties that could support the government, he said, describing “a variable geometry” of political forces with their own agendas.
In the wake of the referendum on changes to the Constitution much promoted by Mr. Renzi and most of his party, which voters rejected by the margin of 59 percent to 41, opposition parties called for early elections, interpreting the defeat as a rejection of Mr. Renzi’s leadership and policies. In the wake of the referendum, which voters rejected by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent, opposition parties called for early elections, interpreting the defeat as a rejection of Mr. Renzi’s leadership and policies.
The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which made significant political inroads this year, winning key mayoral races in Rome and Turin, has been particularly vocal in clamoring for immediate elections to capitalize on its success as a protagonist of the “no” campaign against the referendum. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement — which made significant political inroads this year, winning key mayoral races in Rome and Turin — has been particularly vocal in clamoring for immediate elections to capitalize on its success as a protagonist of the campaign against the referendum.
But some political analysts suggest that even Mr. Renzi is in a hurry to return to the polls, to capitalize on the 41 percent of the population that voted “yes” for the referendum reforms. But some political analysts suggest that even Mr. Renzi is in a hurry to return to the polls, to capitalize on the portion of the population that voted for the overhauls.
Mr. Gentiloni’s future in part “depends on Renzi’s haste to conquer government again,” said Gianfranco Pasquino, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Bologna.Mr. Gentiloni’s future in part “depends on Renzi’s haste to conquer government again,” said Gianfranco Pasquino, emeritus professor of political science at the University of Bologna.
But there is one considerable stumbling block to early elections, ahead of the natural end of the legislation in February 2018.But there is one considerable stumbling block to early elections, ahead of the natural end of the legislation in February 2018.
The Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, has made clear that elections cannot be held until a new electoral law is drafted for the lower house. The current law, which was passed last year, is under review by Italy’s constitutional court. A ruling is expected in early 2017.The Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, has made clear that elections cannot be held until a new electoral law is drafted for the lower house. The current law, which was passed last year, is under review by Italy’s constitutional court. A ruling is expected in early 2017.
A different law is applied in Senate elections, and Mr. Mattarella has indicated that he would like the two laws to match.A different law is applied in Senate elections, and Mr. Mattarella has indicated that he would like the two laws to match.
Mr. Gentiloni pledged that his government would shepherd and solicit new rules for the polls, but he made it clear that it was up to Parliament to draft the electoral laws.Mr. Gentiloni pledged that his government would shepherd and solicit new rules for the polls, but he made it clear that it was up to Parliament to draft the electoral laws.
In asking lawmakers to vote for him, and perhaps guarantee it a long life, Mr. Gentiloni told senators Wednesday that his government would “complete the exceptional activity of reform, innovation and modernization that has been undertaken in recent years.” In asking lawmakers to vote for him, Mr. Gentiloni told senators Wednesday that his government would “complete the exceptional activity of reform, innovation and modernization that has been undertaken in recent years.”
But Mr. Orsina said that the government was destined to “play it by ear,” and that at least initially its energy would be focused on urgent matters, like helping to recapitalize Italy’s third largest bank, the Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which is trying to raise money from private investors in order not to fail. But Mr. Orsina said that the government was destined to “play it by ear,” and that at least initially its energy would be focused on urgent matters, like helping to recapitalize Italy’s third-largest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which is trying to raise money from private investors in order not to fail.
Long-term initiatives were not likely, at first, “because the government’s durability is not assured,” he said.Long-term initiatives were not likely, at first, “because the government’s durability is not assured,” he said.
Pointing out that Italy had many international appointments on its agenda — including the 60th anniversary in late March of the Treaty of Rome, which led to the creation of the European Economic Community — Mr. Pasquino was more optimistic.Pointing out that Italy had many international appointments on its agenda — including the 60th anniversary in late March of the Treaty of Rome, which led to the creation of the European Economic Community — Mr. Pasquino was more optimistic.
“With some luck, and as long as it doesn’t make mistakes, the government could even make it to the end of the Legislature” in 2018, he said. “With some luck, and as long as it doesn’t make mistakes, the government could even make it to the end of the legislature” in 2018, he said.