Matteo Renzi's left-right
majority was split on major policy moves, especially justice
reforms, ahead of a key cabinet meeting Friday that will launch
a raft of sweeping measures to revamp Italy's judicial,
educational, political and economic systems.
The junior partner of Renzi's Democratic Party, Interior
Minister Angelino Alfano's New Centre Right, was said to be
unhappy about several main planks in the justice reform framed
by Justice Minister Andrea Orlando.
"The proposals on wiretaps, a new longer statute of
limitations and fewer appeals to the high Court of Cassation
might all be deal-breakers," an NCD source told ANSA.
"We are confident the cabinet meeting will address changes
to both the civil and penal systems," Transport Minister
Maurizio Lupi of the NCD said.
Renzi met Thursday evening with President Giorgio
Napolitano to fine-tune the top points on the agenda with a view
to presenting an impressive line-up of reform plans to guardians
of fiscal rectitude in northern Europe, ahead of a keenly
anticipated autumn budget.
Before that, Renzi met with Economy Minister Pier Carlo
Padoan to make sure the government has financial cover for a
package of measures to kick start the economy by slashing red
tape, called Unblock Italy.
Also attending was Transport and Infrastructure Minister
Lupi, whose portfolio will be heavily involved in moves to lift
the economy.
On the agenda of the trio's talks, sources said, were ways
to fund Unblock Italy so that local administrations can
disentangle themselves from red tape and other obstacles now
paralyzing public works and infrastructure projects.
Tax cuts to encourage entrepreneurs and funding for
infrastructure projects are part of the ambitious project, which
will go hand in hand with judicial reforms to try to lure
foreign investment and lift the economy out of its longest
postwar recession.
In another bid to inject fresh life into the economy, Renzi
will unveil plans at the cabinet meeting to hire as many as
100,000 teachers so that the huge recourse to supply teachers
that is a drag on the educational system will be ended.
Ahead of his talks with Napolitano, Renzi defended one of
the emblematic parts of the justice reform.
Cutting vacation time in Italy's court system to
reduce judicial backlogs, he said, is "a symbol, but important"
to demonstrate the government's commitment to broader reform.
In a tweet on his account @matteorenzi, the premier said
judicial reforms are high on the agenda for Friday's cabinet
meeting.
Renzi said his justice reform aims to halve the current
civil case load within 1,000 days.
"Our objective...is to guarantee a trial of first instance
within one year instead of three," he said in a tweet.
Italy's sluggish judicial system, particularly in civil
cases, has been a serious impediment to business investment.
Entrepreneurs have long complained that it is too risky to
enter into contracts and investments in Italy because problems
can be too burdensome to resolve.
The government is working on its thousand-day packet of
structural reforms which it hopes will convince EU leaders to
endorse greater budget flexibility on spending related to
boosting economic growth.
"At work on #thousand days. #Italy is starting up again,"
the reformist premier tweeted on his @matteorenzi account.
Officials plan to submit on Friday a 12-point justice
reform package designed to simplify civil law, halving a huge
backlog of cases to remove a major block on foreign investment
in Italy.
These reforms would also make civil judges liable for
negligence or malfeasance, and restore false accounting to the
status of a full-blown crime from the misdemeanour,
non-custodial status ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi had reduced it
to in order to help address public concern over waves of
corruption scandals.
Improving Italy's current electoral law, which has been
ruled unconstitutional, is perhaps one the most significant
battles that lies ahead for Renzi.
From his cabinet meeting, Renzi will then attend Saturday's
meeting of top European Union officials where Renzi will
continue to promote Italy's nominee, Federica Mogherini, for the
job of EU high commissioner for foreign affairs, replacing
incumbent Catherine Ashton.
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