The two parties supporting
the government, the League and the 5-Star Movement (M5S), on
Friday averted a crisis over the executive's fiscal decree
linked to the 2019 budget.
League leader, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo
Salvini said he would travel to Rome Saturday to settle a row
with ruling partner and M5S leader Luigi Di Maio over the
government's 'fiscal peace' amnesty decree.
"Today I'm in Trentino but tomorrow I'll fly to Rome to solve
the problems, Enough of quarrels", he said.
Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, an M5S bigwig, said
"Salvini and Di Maio will meet tomorrow and settle things".
But another M5S heavyweight, House Speaker Roberto Fico, said
"there's going to be a problem if the amnesty stays in the
decree, were' not the same as the League".
Fico went on: "if Salvini wants to talk to me, we'll have to
talk about the contents of the decree"
He also stressed that it was up to Premier Giuseppe Conte to
call cabinet meetings.
Centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) leader Maurizio
Martina said the government, with its "squabbles over the
amnesty is jeopardising Italians bank accounts."
The government has repeatedly denied that the fiscal peace
measure, which allows people with tax arrears up to 100,000
euros to clear their debt with the taxman, is an amnesty.
Salvini Thursday night said he would after all consider going
to a cabinet meeting Saturday to ease tensions and clear up a
case of last-minute "manipulation" alleged by the other deputy
premier, Labour and Industry Minister Di Maio.
Salvini dismissed all talk of a crisis but insisted that "Di
Maio knew everything about the amnesty. We don't lay traps, the
decree is what it is".
On Thursday night Salvini had said "the decree won't change,
everyone should assume their responsibilities", and had said he
would not attend a cabinet meeting Saturday.
Di Maio said Wednesday that the decree had been sent to
President Sergio Mattarella with a change to the part regarding
the government's so-called 'fiscal peace' to help people
terminate disputes, without the consent of the M5S.
Di Maio said he was going to present a petition to criminal
prosecutors over "manipulation" of the legislation, expanding
the scope of the disputes that could benefit from the fiscal
peace - and reportedly in particular benefitting alleged money
launderers, according to the Italian media.
Another source of contention was a measure on car insurance,
which the League said had not been discussed but the M5S said
contained "measures that were read and discussed".
As tensions subsequently mounted, the M5S leader said late
Thursday "a political clarification is needed, either in a
cabinet meeting or at a summit".
He said the spread had shot up to 327 points because "the
markets think we are not united".
Salvini said there would not be another cabinet meeting on
the measure.
Asked if he would attend a cabinet meeting on Saturday,
Salvini said "I have other commitments".
Denying speculation there might be a crisis, Salvini said
"this government will go on for five years".
Premier Conte said "its up to me to call a cabinet meeting".
"I'm the premier and I call cabinet meetings and I don't know
if Salvini will come, he's on an election campaign".
The president's office had said earlier that the decree had
not been delivered to it.
Premier Conte said that there was "no rift" between the two
ruling parties.
Conte's office then said the passage of the decree to the
president had been halted after the premier had been alerted to
the problem.
"I'll be in Rome on Friday," said Conte, who was attending
the European summit in Brussels.
"I'l check it article by article and it will go to the
president".
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