Among the big names who arrived in Sardinia for this sprint campaign under the umbrella, his name was still missing. In the end Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva and ally with the action of Carlo Calenda in the Third Pole, listened to the appeals of his Sardinian candidates. And today at 4 pm he is in Cagliari, at Palazzo Doglio, to meet supporters and voters in the only island stage of his tour.
Your declared goal is the Draghi bis, but the premier reiterated that he is not available. How do we put it?
«What should the Premier have answered in the press conference? His no is a symptom of seriousness and respect for the electoral competition. Shortly before the fall of the Conte government, many commentators said that Draghi was not available to be the Premier and instead we took him to Palazzo Chigi, even against the will of the Democratic Party who called us irresponsible and then had in Conte a "very strong point of reference ". We will try to do the same again ».
Tell us about the agreement with Calenda: who convinced whom?
“Calenda and I have governed well together. Beyond small differences, we have the same idea of a country. We talked to each other and we arrived at a synthesis: it would have been incomprehensible to go apart, certainly not to run together and build a common home ».
They say you don't love each other and yours is an alliance of convenience, will it last?
“We are running to govern, not to go on vacation together. We do not want to send nice people to Parliament, but capable and serious people. Ours is not an electoral cartel, we will try to build Renew Europe, the European group we are both part of, also in Italy. I wouldn't have taken a step sideways if I hadn't thought that the Third Pole project was more important than personal ambitions ».
Realistically, will you hit 10%?
«We aim to do well, 10% is within reach and it is the percentage that is needed to prevent Giorgia Meloni from becoming the Premier. We'll go well, but as is well known, I'm more passionate about politics than exit polls. With a small troop of parliamentarians we sent home Conte, the most popular in the polls, to bring Mario Draghi, the most competent ».
If the center-right also needed your votes to govern, would you make an agreement with Meloni, Salvini and Berlusconi?
«We will never support Giorgia Meloni Premier and we will be loyal to the opposition of her eventual government. Our goal is to create an executive with whoever will be there and get Draghi back to Palazzo Chigi ».
What does Italy need?
«One word that encompasses them all: development. From the infrastructures that serve the country, to regasification plants, to clean nuclear energy, to a less oppressive bureaucracy, to work. We are the pole of the yes to growth, against the gentlemen of the no to everything ».
Citizenship income, why do you want to cancel it?
"The citizen's income is a wrong measure not only for the scams that have brought into the pockets of crafty and criminals the tax money of the citizens with whom it is financed, money earned with work and sacrifice, but also and above all for a reason cultural: the state must invest in jobs, not subsidies. We propose that at the first refusal of a job offer the recipient loses the right to receive it ».
Sanctions on Russia and the energy crisis, how do you get out of it?
«The sanctions on Russia are sacrosanct: the invasion of a sovereign country cannot be left unpunished. As for the energy crisis, we need a European ceiling on the price of gas, we need the regasification plants in Piombino and Ravenna, enough with the vetoes of the superintendencies on renewables, enough with the no to clean nuclear power. Immediate aid from the government to businesses and families is good: after that, those who today are asking Draghi to do more are the same ones who brought him down. Having a government in full swing would have left much more room for maneuver ”.
Lega and FdI did not vote on Orban's condemnation of Hungary in the European Parliament, what do you think?
«More than for democracy, I believe that Meloni and Salvini represent a danger for our wallets. Staying on Orban's side means staying against Italy: Hungary is the country of vetoes on the redistribution of migrants and of the no to the PNRR, on which the fake patriots of Giorgia Meloni abstained several times in Europe. More than Brothers of Italy, they are little brothers of Hungary ».
Why Minister Bonetti leading the House in Sardinia?
«Elena Bonetti was a serious and capable Minister: she will be attentive to the needs of the Sardinians and will be able to bring their voice to Parliament. From the family act to the commitment to gender equality, the work you have done speaks for you ".
The principle of insularity in the Constitution: what must be done to make it concrete?
“Having brought it into the Constitution was a great goal, achieved also thanks to the cohesion between the political forces. Finally, the disadvantage dictated by the insularity of Sardinia can be overcome. Now it is necessary to assert that principle at European and national level so that it does not remain a mere declaration of intent, with the same spirit of collaboration between parties ».
Territorial continuity, Volotea and Ita have just announced that they will no longer guarantee the service without compensation.
“Territorial continuity is not a habit, but a primary need to be guaranteed for people and goods. I hope that the Region will intervene with due effectiveness but the problem is solved above all at the European level. I agree with the idea of discounted rates for tourists: if a family spends hundreds and hundreds of euros to get to Sardinia, we don't help tourism ».
The PNRR seems to be the last train to fill the infrastructural gap of the island, what to do to avoid losing it?
«Infrastructures create jobs, attract investments and are a driving force for the development of the territory. The PNRR is fundamental, which is why we will oppose those who, like the right, ask to question it again: it would be the perfect opportunity for countries like Orban's Hungary to block it. The PNRR is fundamental for the island but other interventions are also needed: I am thinking of the lack of adequate railway infrastructures in eastern Sardinia, just to give an example ».
In 2014 he brought the Democratic Party to 40%: going back, would you replay the game of the constitutional referendum?
«I do not pursue easy consensus, but good government. Sometimes the choices that seem unpopular are, however, the best ones for the country. I would play the referendum game another 100 times: a constitutional reform is not for me, it is for the country. We have seen it with the pandemic, how essential it is to reform Title V. Just as, despite being the architect of the changes of government of the legislature that is closing, I believe that it is necessary to have stable governments, on the model of mayors, with the direct election of the Premier ".
Massimo Ledda
