Italy’s political crisis was short lived. Mario Monti’s Government is ready for a vote of confidence, in both houses of the Italian Parliament, enjoying a large majority and a single parliamentary opposition announced by the Northern League. Mr. Monti’s new Government has taken the shape and form of a slim and fit “technical cabinet”, composed of 16 ministers, compared to 24 of the previous Government. The Premier has retained the Treasury and Finance portfolios as Minister for the Economy. Mr. Monti held a rapid series of consultations with all parliamentary groups, political parties, unions, commerce and industry representatives and today he announced the new cabinet.
Mario Monti had expressed a desire to reinforce the political “agenda” of the new cabinet, looking at constitutional and electoral reforms as well as the inevitable additional austerity measures and the economic reforms. It seems that the political mandate that Mr Monti received, at this stage, is limited to the economy. I believe that in the next few months we will see a more comprehensive set of reforms becoming part of the Monti’s agenda and I hope the new parliamentary majority will use this opportunity to introduce changes and reforms which have been, for a long time, political objectives of major parties.
Monti’s mountains, however, may prove to be insurmountable without a cohesive majority and this is the greatest challenge of all for the Italian political system. The timing of the crisis, with such a quick consultation process, the composition of the cabinet and the strong support from Italian public opinion are already positive indicators of a new phase in the Italian public life.
Mario Monti’s new cabinet
Premier and Minister for the Economy: Mario Monti
Foreign Affairs: Giulio Terzi di Santagata
Internal Affairs: Anna Maria Cancellieri
Justice: Paola Severino
Defence: Giampaolo Di Paola
Economic Development and Infrastructure: Corrado Passera
Agriculture: Mario Catania
Environment: Corrado Clini
Employment, Social Policies, Equal Opportunities: Elsa Fornero
Health: Renato Balduzzi
Education, University and Research: Francesco Profumo
Heritage, Arts, Culture: Lorenzo Ornaghi
European Affairs: Enzo Moavero Milanesi
Tourism and Sport: Piero Gnudi
Local Government: Fabrizio Barca
Relations with Parliament: Piero Giarda
International cooperation and integration: Andrea Riccardi
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