Farewells to the Cassese Commission? More specious than suggestive

Amato, Bassanini, Gallo and Pajno leave the working group responsible for establishing the essential levels of performance relating to differentiated autonomy. According to them, it would have been better to deal with a broader spectrum of issues. But often the best is the enemy of the good

Four members of the commission chaired by Sabino Cassese and charged with establishing the essential levels of services to be guaranteed to all citizens in relation to the reform of the regional institution which provides for differentiated autonomy have resigned. These are Giuliano Amato, Franco Bassanini, Franco Gallo and Alessandro Pajno. The reason for this choice is illustrated in a letter, which raises a problem, that of the too limited definition of the mandate: only the levels of performance deriving from regional legislation and administrations are asked to be defined, while national and municipal powers also contribute to determining the differences. According to the resigners, a general survey should be made on the causes of the differences in the services received by citizens. It is an approach based on a criticism not only of the current government but also of previous ones: “There are matters in which the legislator has never proceeded to determine Lep and many others in which this determination was partial”. This delay should be overcome by the work of the commission, which would thus assume a wider function than that indicated when it was convened. A suggestive prospect, but which should have pushed those who resigned not to accept joining a body whose tasks were more limited. They chose not to contribute to the correct definition of performance levels related to regional autonomy, because in their view it would have been better to deal with a broader spectrum of issues. Would have been better? Maybe, but it wouldn’t be the first time that the best is the enemy of the good.