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Italian Premier’s Latest Challenge Comes From His Own Party Italian Premier’s Latest Challenge Comes From His Own Party
(7 months later)
ROME — Like a piñata that has been battered but remains unbroken, Enrico Letta has demonstrated an unexpected resilience as Italy’s prime minister. He took office in April amid predictions that his coalition government would quickly collapse. It did not. Then Silvio Berlusconi, the powerful former prime minister, vowed to bring him down. That did not happen, either. ROME — Like a piñata that has been battered but remains unbroken, Enrico Letta has demonstrated an unexpected resilience as Italy’s prime minister. He took office in April amid predictions that his coalition government would quickly collapse. It did not. Then Silvio Berlusconi, the powerful former prime minister, vowed to bring him down. That did not happen, either.
But now Mr. Letta, 47, is again fighting to save his government, and himself, except this time the pressure is coming from the leader of his center-left Democratic Party, the rising star Matteo Renzi. When Mr. Renzi became party leader in a nationwide primary in December, with a mandate to shake up Italy’s ossified politics, his true ambition was presumed to be the prime minister’s office. The only question was when he would make his move.But now Mr. Letta, 47, is again fighting to save his government, and himself, except this time the pressure is coming from the leader of his center-left Democratic Party, the rising star Matteo Renzi. When Mr. Renzi became party leader in a nationwide primary in December, with a mandate to shake up Italy’s ossified politics, his true ambition was presumed to be the prime minister’s office. The only question was when he would make his move.
The answer may come as soon as Thursday during an emergency meeting of the Democratic Party. After weeks of public sparring, Mr. Renzi and Mr. Letta met privately on Wednesday for what apparently was an inconclusive discussion about the government’s future. Analysts point to three possible situations: Mr. Letta would step aside to make way for Mr. Renzi; Mr. Letta would remain in office but reshuffle his cabinet to include Renzi allies and push an agenda of broad overhaul; or the government will collapse, and early elections will be called in the spring.The answer may come as soon as Thursday during an emergency meeting of the Democratic Party. After weeks of public sparring, Mr. Renzi and Mr. Letta met privately on Wednesday for what apparently was an inconclusive discussion about the government’s future. Analysts point to three possible situations: Mr. Letta would step aside to make way for Mr. Renzi; Mr. Letta would remain in office but reshuffle his cabinet to include Renzi allies and push an agenda of broad overhaul; or the government will collapse, and early elections will be called in the spring.
“Anything can happen now,” said Roberto D’Alimonte, a political analyst. “It is on the edge.”“Anything can happen now,” said Roberto D’Alimonte, a political analyst. “It is on the edge.”
Italy spent much of last year veering from one political crisis to another, with a nervous Europe worrying that instability might ripple outward across the Continent. Mr. Letta regularly preached the politics of stability, arguing that his awkward government, a coalition of left and right parties, was a responsible bulwark against anti-austerity, anti-Europe sentiment expressed by figures like Mr. Berlusconi and Beppe Grillo, the leader of the Five Star Movement. European leaders voiced support.Italy spent much of last year veering from one political crisis to another, with a nervous Europe worrying that instability might ripple outward across the Continent. Mr. Letta regularly preached the politics of stability, arguing that his awkward government, a coalition of left and right parties, was a responsible bulwark against anti-austerity, anti-Europe sentiment expressed by figures like Mr. Berlusconi and Beppe Grillo, the leader of the Five Star Movement. European leaders voiced support.
But Mr. Renzi represents a different equation, in which the broader issues of Europe are far less in play. For weeks, Mr. Renzi has openly questioned whether Mr. Letta’s government is too weak to push through changes needed to break Italy out of a two-decade slump. Political stability remains a virtue, but Mr. Renzi has warned that the government’s inaction is becoming a serious liability.But Mr. Renzi represents a different equation, in which the broader issues of Europe are far less in play. For weeks, Mr. Renzi has openly questioned whether Mr. Letta’s government is too weak to push through changes needed to break Italy out of a two-decade slump. Political stability remains a virtue, but Mr. Renzi has warned that the government’s inaction is becoming a serious liability.
“The problem is a political one — that is to decide whether this parliamentary term can be one of change,” Mr. Renzi told a gathering of Democratic Party lawmakers this week, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.“The problem is a political one — that is to decide whether this parliamentary term can be one of change,” Mr. Renzi told a gathering of Democratic Party lawmakers this week, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.
Mr. Renzi, the mayor of Florence, has already demonstrated boldness since becoming party leader. He startled many in his party by unexpectedly striking a deal with Mr. Berlusconi, a hated enemy, to overhaul Italy’s election laws. He also wants to amend the Constitution to transform the Senate into a regional assembly, much like in Germany. Mr. Berlusconi has been expelled from Parliament because of a tax fraud conviction, but he continues to lead the opposition center-right movement as he awaits a final court sentencing for community service or house arrest.Mr. Renzi, the mayor of Florence, has already demonstrated boldness since becoming party leader. He startled many in his party by unexpectedly striking a deal with Mr. Berlusconi, a hated enemy, to overhaul Italy’s election laws. He also wants to amend the Constitution to transform the Senate into a regional assembly, much like in Germany. Mr. Berlusconi has been expelled from Parliament because of a tax fraud conviction, but he continues to lead the opposition center-right movement as he awaits a final court sentencing for community service or house arrest.
Election overhaul had languished for years in Parliament, though it gained urgency after Italy’s highest court recently declared much of the law unconstitutional. Italy’s complex voting system has rarely produced workable majorities. Mr. Renzi’s overhaul package is intended to reward bigger parties and strong coalitions with the majorities needed to govern effectively in Parliament. It will be debated in the lower house next week.Election overhaul had languished for years in Parliament, though it gained urgency after Italy’s highest court recently declared much of the law unconstitutional. Italy’s complex voting system has rarely produced workable majorities. Mr. Renzi’s overhaul package is intended to reward bigger parties and strong coalitions with the majorities needed to govern effectively in Parliament. It will be debated in the lower house next week.
Though the constitutional changes to the Senate will take more time, analysts say Mr. Renzi could try to quickly push through the electoral overhauls and then, with momentum, call elections to ask for a public mandate to govern. (Publicly, Mr. Renzi has played down this chain of events.) But that strategy could be derailed if deliberations slow in Parliament, which explains the speculation that Mr. Renzi may ask his party to move him into the top job so he can push through the changes.Though the constitutional changes to the Senate will take more time, analysts say Mr. Renzi could try to quickly push through the electoral overhauls and then, with momentum, call elections to ask for a public mandate to govern. (Publicly, Mr. Renzi has played down this chain of events.) But that strategy could be derailed if deliberations slow in Parliament, which explains the speculation that Mr. Renzi may ask his party to move him into the top job so he can push through the changes.
“Most people think this is a risk he shouldn’t take,” said Mr. D’Alimonte, who advised Mr. Renzi on some of the technicalities of the electoral changes. “But where we might see risks, he might see opportunity.”“Most people think this is a risk he shouldn’t take,” said Mr. D’Alimonte, who advised Mr. Renzi on some of the technicalities of the electoral changes. “But where we might see risks, he might see opportunity.”
Italy’s economy needs a jolt. Unemployment is above 12 percent, and the country is suffering through a prolonged recession. Industrial production dropped in December, and business leaders have beseeched politicians to pass changes on labor and tax policy, as well as other measures.Italy’s economy needs a jolt. Unemployment is above 12 percent, and the country is suffering through a prolonged recession. Industrial production dropped in December, and business leaders have beseeched politicians to pass changes on labor and tax policy, as well as other measures.
“We are worried that time is passing, and nothing is happening,” said a spokesman for Confindustria, Italy’s leading business association. “We will follow any government that pushes through measures that will assist Italy to get back to growth.”“We are worried that time is passing, and nothing is happening,” said a spokesman for Confindustria, Italy’s leading business association. “We will follow any government that pushes through measures that will assist Italy to get back to growth.”
Mr. Letta has argued that his government is making progress and that it is working to push through critical changes, even as he has acknowledged that his unwieldy coalition has made things difficult. Hours after his Wednesday meeting with Mr. Renzi, Mr. Letta held a televised news conference in which he denied rumors that he might resign. He said his administration would continue to prioritize job creation and other changes, points he said he would present during Thursday’s party meeting.Mr. Letta has argued that his government is making progress and that it is working to push through critical changes, even as he has acknowledged that his unwieldy coalition has made things difficult. Hours after his Wednesday meeting with Mr. Renzi, Mr. Letta held a televised news conference in which he denied rumors that he might resign. He said his administration would continue to prioritize job creation and other changes, points he said he would present during Thursday’s party meeting.
“I am proud of what we have done in 10 months, which is much, given the conditions,” he said. “And I am sorry that those conditions haven’t allowed us to do all the things that we have wanted to do.”“I am proud of what we have done in 10 months, which is much, given the conditions,” he said. “And I am sorry that those conditions haven’t allowed us to do all the things that we have wanted to do.”
To some degree, the infighting is typical fare for the Democratic Party, which has a history of factionalism and divisive internal rivalries. But party officials are concerned, especially with European parliamentary elections only two months away.To some degree, the infighting is typical fare for the Democratic Party, which has a history of factionalism and divisive internal rivalries. But party officials are concerned, especially with European parliamentary elections only two months away.
“I think it all depends on whether Letta can convince Renzi that he can do it,” said Giorgio Tonini, a senator with the Democratic Party. “If there is a clash between the two in tomorrow’s assembly, or earlier, the party — as of today — will choose Renzi.“I think it all depends on whether Letta can convince Renzi that he can do it,” said Giorgio Tonini, a senator with the Democratic Party. “If there is a clash between the two in tomorrow’s assembly, or earlier, the party — as of today — will choose Renzi.
“It’s not a matter of personal ambition, but of politics.”“It’s not a matter of personal ambition, but of politics.”