Grassroots members of the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Tuesday voted yes by
79% to 20.7% to a government with the centre-left Democratic
Party (PD) on the M5S's online voting platform, Rousseau, paving
the way for an unprecedented alliance between the former fierce
foes.
M5S leader Luigi Di Maio said that "I think we must be very
proud that the whole world waited for the result of these 80,000
Italian citizens on a digital platform that is unique in the
world".
Di Maio said that "the vast majority voted Yes for the birth
of a government backed by a coalition where the M5S will be the
majority force. It was a plebiscite".
He said that "those 20 points on which I raised my voice, and
perhaps some people did not like the tone, all went into (the
government programme). There is the cut in parliamentarians, two
hours are lacking for a historic reform".
He said that that "now we move onto the last mile, the
government team that must work to improve the quality of people.
It won't be a government of right or left, but a government that
must do the right things".
Di Maio said that "in less than a month a government crisis
was resolved, via a different method, not in back rooms, but
with a process that comes from the work done in these years,
putting in place a programme and then asking for an appraisal of
that programme from the PD".
He said "now we need a budget law that must focus on
citizens, the environment.
"I'm very happy about the government that will come because
it is based on so many ideas that we were realising.
"Our goal is to realise the programme".
He said that "in the next few hours we will devote ourselves
to finding the best profiles for realising the programme.
"In the next few hours you will know a government team led by
premier Giuseppe Conte, whom I thank and salute, and to whom I
am bound by great friendship.
"With whom we worked well and to whom we recognise the role
of guarantor and 'super partes', which is not a way to distance
himself but is his function, his role".
He said that that the government crisis happened "because of
an irresponsible gesture by (League leader and former interior
minister Matteo) Salvini.
"You could have stayed in government and you decided to step
aside", he said of Salvini who pulled the plug on the government
on August 8 only to try to row back when he saw the PD alliance
materialising.
PD leader Nicola Zingaretti said that "with the closure of
the programmatic work we made another step forward for a turning
point government.
"Cutting taxes on labour, economic development, green
economy, bolstering schools, universities and research, radical
modification of (Salvini's) migrant and security decrees.
"Now let's go and change Italy".
Anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Salvini said that he
was "proud that the League is out of the horse trading" on
government posts and programme between the M5S and the PD.
He said the "little government is backed by 60,000 militants
who voted on Rousseau, but it is more serious to ask the opinion
of 60 million Italians".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
