Political heavyweights gather at Cernobbio, from Conte to Renzi and Pichetto

Italy’s political leaders gathered at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio for a final day of discussions focused on the country’s future.

The opposition session included Angelo Bonelli of the Green and Left Alliance, Italia Viva leader Matteo Renzi and Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein. Five Star Movement president Giuseppe Conte joined remotely. Government ministers then addressed energy policy, infrastructure and competitiveness, while Labor Minister Marina Calderone and CNEL president Renato Brunetta discussed work, skills and opportunities for younger generations. Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti was due to close the forum’s program.

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We have already worked together on the program, and we have already built up significant proposals on labor and environmental policy, as well as important elements such as a conflict-of-interest law.

Conte said opposition groups had already worked together on proposals involving labor policy, environmental policy and a conflict-of-interest law. He also said their foreign-policy positions were clear and argued that Europe does not benefit from military escalation, which he said is draining substantial resources. Conte criticized commitments to spend 5% of the budget on arms.

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Europe does not benefit from the military escalation that is draining very substantial resources.

He renewed his call for a national sovereign development fund, saying the state has assets and private savings that are not being fully used. Conte said he had submitted bills to both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate and presented the fund as a way to support public-interest goals, preserve Italy’s social model while health spending is being reduced, and invest in human capital.

Renzi said he preferred elections in May because only half of Italy would vote and a summer election campaign could be avoided. He said party primaries would follow, comparing the process to Siena’s Palio and describing Giorgia Meloni as the horse that decides when the race begins.

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I think it is better to vote in May, because half of Italy votes and it avoids a summer election campaign.