he doesn’t know how to spend or manage. Certain checks paralyze, the government has done well»- Corriere.it

Carlo Calenda, don’t you believe, like the Democratic Party, that the government’s decision to withdraw from the control of the Court of Auditors over the Pnrr reveals the propensity for an “authoritarian turn” of this majority? There are also those who have brought up fascism…

«Not at all, it is a redundant control with respect to the EU. Building checks on checks to then paralyze the public administration is one of the many Italian evils. The government has done well. And authoritative administrative experts have also expressed themselves in this sense. The point of the Pnrr is not this ».

And what is it then?

«The point is that we are unable to spend the money because in this country the politicians are unable to make things happen because they have no management experience. It’s a cross-cutting issue. With the Pnrr this aspect is highlighted in a sensational way. They are very good at making laws and giving bonuses, for the rest, from healthcare to immigration and education, nothing structural ever changes. And Italians find themselves having to spend 40 billion euros a year for treatment while only one per cent of Pnrr funds have been spent on health care».

Is it possible that the oppositions are still unable to find common ground for action?

“I sent our plan for zero waiting lists in healthcare and a contractual minimum wage plan to Schlein and the government. Maybe, just maybe, and with a long delay, we will be able to do something together on minimum wage. But the problem is that Schlein has three minimum wage proposals that reflect the different souls of the party. Either the Democratic Party becomes aware of the fact that within it there are souls who think differently about everything, including Ukraine, or whoever is the secretary can only communicate nothing”.

What do you think the Democratic Party should do?

«I think it’s time for the Democratic Party to get out of no man’s land, because in this way it doesn’t mark the government, on the contrary, every stupid controversy on the Roman salute at the June 2 parade, on the Court of Auditors as a bulwark of democracy against fascism, represents the guarantee for Meloni of a long and prosperous political life. The time has come to give a new identity to the liberal-democratic area by making a substantive opposition and we will be very happy if someone from the Democratic Party decides that it is time to make this type of opposition in collaboration or by coming to build with us a liberal-democratic party capable of taking clear-cut positions”.

And in the meantime?

«I can only continue to send our contributions to the opposition and the majority. I will also do it with the proposal that we will launch on Thursday for the limitation and prohibition of the use of social networks for children under 13 and the need for parental consent for those aged 13 to 15. It is a law that was approved in France and which the opposition should strike a blow. Pre-adolescents are devastated by social media and families are left alone. With the result that the pathologies of young people increase dramatically ».

But according to what you said earlier on the minimum wage, something seems to be happening…

«We had some technical meetings. I see the possibility of finding a balance that does not destroy collective agreements. Which the 5 Star proposal would do. Just as I hope that Meloni will decide to use our proposal to use the Pnrr money for a great Industry 4.0 plan extended to include energy and the environment. He cannot continue to say that he wants to change the Pnrr without explaining how ».

And what happens in the Third Pole? You’ve gone from mutual accusations to a sort of armistice, it seems.

“There the situation was clarified. Groups stay together, also because they work well. Unfortunately the single party project, on which I worked day and night, foundered due to unavailability of the other party. As far as the Europeans are concerned, we will decide by talking to all the parties and associations that are part of Renew. But it is a discussion that will take place in due time. For now, let’s go back to working on proposals, territory and young people».

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