Italy's Premier Betray Narrow Room for Maneuver Before Confidence Vote
December 13 2016 - 10:29AM
Dow Jones News
By Giada Zampano
ROME--Italy's new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni highlighted
Italy's banking problems and the country's struggle to control
migration as his government's priorities in his first speech before
parliament, marking out a narrow platform that tacitly acknowledges
the fragile political support he enjoys.
The new prime minister, who took power just a week after the
resignation of his predecessor Matteo Renzi, needs to win votes of
confidence in each of Italy's two legislative chambers. The first
is expected to come Tuesday evening, while Italy's Senate is due to
hold its confidence vote on Wednesday.
In a speech laying out his governmental program before Italy's
lower house, Mr. Gentiloni said he stands ready to help support
Italy's banking system, which is saddled with about EUR200 billion
($212.4 billion) in bad loans. While he didn't specifically cite
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, he said state aid may be
required in "specific cases." Bankers expect that the state may
have to step in and rescue Italy's No. 3 lender, possibly as soon
as next week.
Mr. Gentiloni also pledged on Tuesday to take a strong stand in
the European debate over migration, as the European Union looks at
revising asylum rules. Mr. Gentiloni is scheduled to participate in
an EU summit this Thursday where leaders will discuss the
issue.
Italy is at the front lines of Europe's migration problem. More
than 170,000 migrants have arrived by boat so far this year. Mr.
Gentiloni echoed the push by his predecessor Matteo Renzi in
calling Tuesday for other European countries to share the
burden.
"It is unacceptable that Europe is so severe in its [economic]
austerity policies and so tolerant of those countries that don't
share the burden" of coping with the new arrivals, he told
parliamentarians.
Mr. Gentiloni confirmed that his government will, like his
predecessor's, push for pro-growth policies in Europe to support
Italy's feeble economic recovery. Italy has been vociferous in
calling for a relaxation in the fiscal restraints imposed by the
EU. The country's economy is at a near standstill, expected to grow
no more than 1% next year and in 2018.
The timidity of Mr. Gentiloni's platform reflects how little
political capital the new premier enjoys. Critics, led by the
antiestablishment 5 Star Movement, have blasted the new government
as a "photocopy" of Mr. Renzi's, given that Mr. Gentiloni's cabinet
is little changed from that of his predecessor.
The premier addressed a half-empty lower house, with most of the
opposition parties, including the 5 Star Movement, deserting the
chamber.
Mr. Gentiloni isn't expected to encounter problems in securing
the vote in the lower house, where his party, the center-left
Democratic Party, enjoys a wide majority. He faces a tougher task
in the Senate, where his majority is much narrower. A small
center-right party that had supported Mr. Renzi said Monday that it
wouldn't vote for Mr. Gentiloni's government.
While most political experts expect Mr. Gentiloni to secure the
Senate vote, they say it will make it difficult for the government
to act boldly in addressing Italy's manifold problems.
To survive future confidence votes on important issues, the
Gentiloni government may have to secure the external support of
other small parliamentary groups, leaving him reliant on shaky
majorities.
Write to Giada Zampano at giada.zampano@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 13, 2016 10:14 ET (15:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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