No M5S-League crisis on fiscal decree

(ANSA) - Brussels, October 19 - 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".