The majority collapses in the Chamber: the Def is not approved. A big problem for Meloni

It happens sooner or later to all governments. And today, in the early afternoon of this Thursday at the end of April, it also happened to Giorgia Meloni: the majority of her went under the Chamber. However, both the times and the ways are surprising. The times, because just six months after the baptism of the patriotic executive, this slip – of those that usually signal the beginning of the precipitation of events – seems a little too early. And for the ways, above all. Because today was not an ordinary vote: the report to the Def, the Economic and Financial Document was being discussed.

In other words, state indebtedness had to be authorised: and for this an absolute majority was required. In short, 201 votes were needed. Only 194 arrived, seven less than the union minimum, but above all 46 less than the total potential, if it is true that the majority groups can count on 237 votes, to which are added the 3 of the minorities who have given their support . And it is sensational, of course: because without the go-ahead for the budget deviation, the government will not be able to enact the measures it had planned. Even the much-publicized cut in the €3 billion tax wedge comes to naught.

Instead, the process of the majority begins, complete with the Var. Whose fault is it? Of Thursday afternoon, of course, of the anxiety of going home. Alright then. Of the lack of promptness with which the Minister for Relations with Parliament, the Melonian Luca Ciriani, signaled the delicacy of the vote? Maybe. But what emerges, at least at first, is a general sloppiness. The League had 11 truancy; Forza Italia 9, Fratelli d’Italia 5. But there’s more: because if to these are added the deputies “on a mission”, including members of the government, another 19 defections must be added. And it is remarkable that in Forza Italia, even the group leader Paolo Barelli is missing from the appeal, together with his vicar, Raffaele Nervi. A troop sent to the decisive front without his general and deputy? Ohibò.

What is certain is that Meloni, meanwhile on a diplomatic trip to London, will learn the news with some disappointment. And it is understandable, because the fool has few precedents, on such an important vote. An accident, the one that occurred in Montecitorio, which in fact makes the Def waste paper. “The problem is that the deputies do not know, or do not realize”, the economy minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, already snorts, evidently annoyed. It will now be up to him to return to the CDM and have a new financial document approved, which will then be brought back to Parliament for scrutiny. Hoping that then we won’t have to return from the start once again.

• 
  

  
  

• Valerio Valentini

• Born in L’Aquila, in 1991. Grew up in Collemare, up there in the Apennines. Classical high school diploma, degree in Modern Literature at the University of Trento. Al Foglio since 2017. I wrote a book, “Gli 80 di Camporammaglia”, published by Laterza, with which I won the Campiello Opera Prima award in 2018. I like good books and good cinema. And cycling, everything, even the bad stuff.