Fight against Covid-19: Salvini criticises Conte
Public life in Italy has been shut down for two weeks. In view of the Corona pandemic, disputes between the government and the opposition had initially died down. But when Prime Minister Conte recently decreed an almost complete shutdown of the economy, Lega chief Matteo Salvini in particular responded by calling for Parliament to be more involved in the decision making. Is he right?
Hypocritical concern for democracy
It is quite astonishing to see Lega boss Matteo Salvini of all people resisting decisions from above now, political scientist Nadia Urbinati comments mockingly in HuffPost Italia:
“After the first cases of coronavirus infections in parliament, the MPs went into self-isolation. There was a discussion about whether digital gatherings would be a viable way to continue Parliament's work. But here again, the opposition didn't exactly shine with commitment. Its representatives are present day and night on social media and on television saying that we are headed for a change of regime. Matteo Salvini declared on television that 'this crisis cannot be resolved with just one man at the helm' - this from the very same man who, standing on the beach in Papeete [last August], asked the Italians to give him full powers!”
That's not the way to do it, Mr Prime Minister!
The opposition is absolutely right to attack Prime Minister Conte, the editor-in-chief of Il Giornale, Alessandro Sallusti, rails:
“His nightly Facebook press conference has given him new contacts on the social media, which satisfies his narcissism but not the people's thirst for security. ... A farce that makes Facebook richer and democracy poorer. ... The fact that in this way, and in the middle of the night, a decree that has yet to be written is being proclaimed via the social network should drive the parliamentarians of the majority - even before the members of the opposition - to the barricades. It should lead to an immediate strike by journalists in public service broadcasting. Because that's where an Italian prime minister must make his announcements, not on a foreign platform that makes a profit on them.”