Agreement reached between Government and European Commission on the measure, infringement procedure against Italy for excessive deficit averted. The green light is therefore given to the deficit-GDP ratio 2,04% with Rome's commitment to implementing structural measures to reduce the debt.

The agreement would also provide for the lowering of the GDP estimate to 1% in 2019 and the increase in VAT for 2020-2021. The three billion missing to bring the deficit to 2,04% they would come from expense savings, divestments and postponements of benefits to large companies. No further reduction regarding Quota Cento and Citizenship Income. It was initially thought to postpone both measures to June but the opposition of the League and M5S pushed Prime Minister Conte to discard the idea. The government feels victorious, while the opposition speaks of a "shameful retreat". Who is right? The Special asked the philosopher Paolo Becchi, convinced sovereignist who just yesterday presented his latest book "Italia Sovrana" in the Capitol.
Professor, who won? The Government or Europe?
“I don't think the Government can claim victory. If he hasn't dropped his underwear, he certainly dropped his pants in a big way".
What else should Lega and M5S have done?
“They should have gone into battle properly armed to prepare for victory. Instead, one gets the impression that they went before the EU Commission with arrows, while the others had rifles. In the end, Moscovici and company won.".
So the opposition is right?
“Not this, because in any case it was the previous executive led by Gentiloni who signed the commitment for the budget deficit 0,8% In the 2019. While they have always obeyed the diktats of the EU by only making ammuina, this government had the courage to oppose it and still managed to obtain a deficit at 2%. So we didn't bend over supinely as happened in the past, That said, I repeat, we can't talk about victory".
Why?
“Because the Budget Law is the provision that most of all identifies national sovereignty. We were off to a great start, implementing an expansive maneuver that aimed at growth and contemplated important social measures. In the end, Europe still forced us to reduce the deficit. So there was an external intervention and it influenced us. It was what the League and M5S had excluded from the beginning precisely in the name of defending national sovereignty. The agreement at 0,8, as said, the Gentiloni Government had signed it and was swept away by the vote of 4 March, therefore the new executive had no obligation to respect it. Instead, in the end we had to give up and compromise precisely because we allowed ourselves to be bound by that commitment. Having been in the M5S, I know perfectly well that their line is to always transform everything into a victory, but this time it seems really difficult to say I won".
The infringement procedure was averted?
"Very good, but at what price? Sacrificing growth? I think that very soon the polls will begin to show a significant drop in approval for this government's action. Today politics is very fluid, public opinion changes its mind very quickly and consensus is also destined to shift very quickly".
He fears a weakening of the sovereignist front?
“I think and hope that the League will be able to hold on, but I doubt that the M5S will be able to do it. His voters, especially in the South, they want the citizen's income and if they don't have it before the European elections they will turn their backs on it. Let's not forget that in the South the grillini have hoarded votes precisely on the promise of the Income and drying up the pool of consensus that Forza Italia had always had in the past. But if the income will struggle to arrive as it is very likely, that consensus will take a minute to return to the Azzurri's camp. When Salvini and Di Maio say that the maneuver is not a question of numbers, they make a big mistake, because it is precisely the numbers that make the difference".
He therefore foresees a return to the field of Forza Italia to the detriment of the M5S?
“In the South certainly yes, if the 5S are not able to deliver what they promised. They have already lost a lot of consensus with the about-turn on the Tap pipeline, which, contrary to what was promised, will not be stopped, and with the Ilva affair, now their electoral survival is linked to the citizen's income. But it seems to me that, for how things turned out, it will be very difficult and complicated to ensure this to a very large audience. Silvio Berlusconi has many times been given up for dead and has many times been politically resurrected. Right, we are no longer dealing with the Berlusconi of the past, but he certainly does not lack the weapons of persuasion. And he certainly knows how to convince disappointed voters. Only from Forza Italia could the real danger come. I don't even take the Democratic Party into consideration since it is now a dead man walking.".
Disappointed by the yellow-green government?
“Partly yes, but I want to continue to trust him. Mine is meant to be constructive criticism, not at all destructive. The battle is not over and I am interested in winning the war. I am sure that this government and this majority still have the ability and strength to succeed in the undertaking".