Criticisms of Autonomy, the study ends up online. Web mess in the Senate – Corriere.it

Someone posted it on Linkedin, causing a mystery to break out, but in reality the study on the differentiated autonomy bill drawn up by the Senate Budget Service containing various critical remarks was also published on the Palazzo Madama website. When the political case exploded yesterday afternoon, the document was withdrawn but then became readable again. With a sibylline explanation from the Senate press office: «A provisional draft, not yet verified, on the Autonomy bill was erroneously published online. The Budget Service apologizes to the press and users for the inconvenience caused».

But although “provisional” and “untested” the draft contains criticisms in some severe case to the text presented by Minister Roberto Calderoli (who does not comment on the incident), immediately accepted by the opposition forces which have always been opposed to Autonomy. In summary, the Senate technicians fear an increase in charges “borne by public finance” and consequently difficulties for the poorest regions.

«Onerous effects may materialize at the time of determination of the related Essential levels of services (Lep) concerning civil and social rights that must be guaranteed throughout the national territory» is written in the draft. The findings are, given the source, very technical even if anything but purely formal. «In the case of a consistent number of functions subject to transfer – underlines the Senate Budget Service again – the eventuality of an inadequacy of the regional co-participations on state taxes could emerge; the poorest Regions or those with low levels of revenue taxes accrued in the regional territory could have greater difficulties in acquiring the additional functions”.

The document continues with other indications. That the oppositions ride to raise the controversy. The group leader in the Senate of the Pd Francesco Boccia finds in the draft a response to his criticisms of the government text. “It is a bill that splits Italy and that we will oppose in Parliament with all possible tools” he assures. The former Speaker of the Chamber Roberto Fico (M5S) is also tough: «Calderoli’s differentiated autonomy risks increasing economic inequalities between the regions. An independent body such as the Senate Studies Service says so. This reform is a danger to the unity of the country, damage to the entire community and an instrument that will only create problems for the northern regions”.

The yellow remains on who, and why, wanted to release that text on Linkedin. So long as the draft comes out when the hearings of experts (no less than 58) foreseen by the Constitutional Affairs commission of the Senate are about to begin. It is legitimate to suspect that the maneuver is the daughter of those who want to “curb” or “sabotage” the bill. Inside the majority?

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