(Finance) – The Chamber of Deputies rejected the ESM ratification treaty, also known as the State Rescue Fund, rejecting Article 1 of the Treaty with 72 votes in favour, 184 against and 44 abstentions. There League he captained the front of the no together with Brothers of Italyuniting his votes with those of the 5 Star Movement, while Forza Italia abstained together with We Moderates. They voted in favor of Pd, IV and Azione.
The majority was therefore divided on a crucial issue, offering a political signal of fragility, but a positive signal comes from the reunion of FdI and Lega. However, the opposition shouted about a majority crisis and called for the government’s resignation.
“The League has never changed its mind on the ESM in twenty years, is one useless tool if not harmful, it would lead to an Italian worker having to put in money to save a German bank”, stated the Northern League leader Matteo Salvinireiterating “I don’t think it’s useful and since Parliament is sovereign, Parliament votes on the basis of Italian national interest: the Germans look after German interests, we look after Italian interests. The League’s position has always been and continues to be clear” .
The position of Forza ItaliaThat fears isolation in Europe. “We want to express an abstention on the proposed opinion against the ESM because the ESM will be an opportunity and not an obligation and because we must continue with continuous and constructive collaboration and discussion with the European institutions”, stated the group leader in the Budget Committee Roberto Pella.
The rejection at the ESM, however, embarrasses Europesince Italy is the only country not to have ratified the Treaty. This blocks the entry into force of an important reform, which would have introduced, among other things, an aid mechanism in the event of widespread banking crises. The reform, also approved by Italy at the time, would have it just had to be ratified by the parliaments of the member countries by December 31st of this year. So much so that Brussels had been pressing Rome for its approval for some time.
“I have taken note of the vote expressed today by the Italian Parliament regarding the ratification of the ESM treaty. While fully respecting the parliamentary deliberations, I regret the outcome“, said the President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoerecalling that “Italy remains the only country that is blocking the finalization of a reform to which we have all committed in 2021. The President then recalled that the ESM is a “key element of the common safety net in the Eurozone” .