The lawyer will have to
implement the "contract" between the antisystem party M5S, which he
is close, and the right-wing sovereignist party the Northern League.
A week ago, he was only an
illustrious anonymous. Even the prodigious imagination of the screenwriters of
the golden age of Cinecitta could not have anticipated that this very smooth,
discreet and elegant 53-year-old jurist could become the new strongman of the
Italian political scene. But Giuseppe Conte was appointed Wednesday, May 23,
President of the Italian Council, after a political soap opera that has lasted
more than two months.
Child of southern Italy, Giuseppe Conte was born August 8, 1964 in Volturara
Appula, a small village of five hundred souls nestled in the countryside of
Apulia. Son of an official of the town hall and a teacher, the man is the first
head of government from southern Italy for almost thirty years. "It's
someone who comes from the outskirts of this country (...), who made himself
alone, a tough guy," says the leader of the 5-star movement, Luigi di
Maio, about him.
Giuseppe Conte also
displays an exemplary academic career. He studied law at Villa Nazareth, a
Catholic university for underprivileged students in Rome. He graduated in 1988
from the prestigious Roman University, La Sapienza.
He then followed an exceptional international career - without a doctorate, however - specializing in private law, which he taught in faculties in Sardinia, Rome and Florence. Until recently, he was also a professor of private law at Luis University in Florence, while practicing in a law firm in the capital. His colleagues, interviewed by the Italian press, describe him as an "applied, passionate, attentive and discreet" teacher.
He then followed an exceptional international career - without a doctorate, however - specializing in private law, which he taught in faculties in Sardinia, Rome and Florence. Until recently, he was also a professor of private law at Luis University in Florence, while practicing in a law firm in the capital. His colleagues, interviewed by the Italian press, describe him as an "applied, passionate, attentive and discreet" teacher.
What contains the government program between the League
and the M5S contain?
Curriculum vitae that makes
debate
Of him, we do not know much more than a resume (CV) - an eighteen-page long document sent earlier this week by the new government coalition green-yellow, formed by the 5-star Movement ( M5S) of Luigi Di Maio and the League of Matteo Salvini. An endless litany of universities with which he collaborated, as well as many legal publications of which he is the author.
It says that the man was also a member of the board of directors of the Italian Space Agency, legal consultant of the Chamber of Commerce of Rome, or member of the supervisory board of several insurance companies in bankruptcy.
But even this single document provoked controversy. Scrutinized by journalists eager to learn more about this unexpected candidate, the New York Times, who described him as "focused on cufflinks and white handkerchiefs," claimed that New York University York, whose teacher claimed to have attended summer school, had no record of him in his archives. In the following hours came other denials, from the Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, the University of Malta, and the Internationales Kulturinstitut Vienna. Continuing reading his CV, we learn that the academic would have been appointed as an expert within a "Social Justice Group" of the European Union, which simply does not exist.
Of him, we do not know much more than a resume (CV) - an eighteen-page long document sent earlier this week by the new government coalition green-yellow, formed by the 5-star Movement ( M5S) of Luigi Di Maio and the League of Matteo Salvini. An endless litany of universities with which he collaborated, as well as many legal publications of which he is the author.
It says that the man was also a member of the board of directors of the Italian Space Agency, legal consultant of the Chamber of Commerce of Rome, or member of the supervisory board of several insurance companies in bankruptcy.
But even this single document provoked controversy. Scrutinized by journalists eager to learn more about this unexpected candidate, the New York Times, who described him as "focused on cufflinks and white handkerchiefs," claimed that New York University York, whose teacher claimed to have attended summer school, had no record of him in his archives. In the following hours came other denials, from the Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, the University of Malta, and the Internationales Kulturinstitut Vienna. Continuing reading his CV, we learn that the academic would have been appointed as an expert within a "Social Justice Group" of the European Union, which simply does not exist.
In Italy, the
"antisystem" coalition at the mercy of a mock CV
This accumulation of lies
would already be overwhelming in itself, but Professor Conte's troubles do not
stop there. Later in the day, we learned that in 2013 the lawyer had, as a
courtesy, defended the interests of the parents of little Sofia, a sick child
whose family wanted the right to seek treatment according to the alleged "
Stamina method ", developed by Professor Vannoni, which had proved to be a
vast scientific scam. A troubling biographical element that appears perfectly
in line with the M5S's anti-science concepts, which for years has been similar
to "no vax" movements opposed to the principle of compulsory
vaccination.
Technocrat
never elected, close to the Vatican
Reacting hot to the
accumulation of accusations, the political leader of the M5S, Luigi Di Maio,
defended Giuseppe Conte: "They do not know what to invent," he
retorted. It is because Giuseppe Conte, close to the leader of the 5-star
movement, seems to be the only personality to have obtained the assent of the
League, while accepting to occupy a post whose most prerogatives have been
trimmed, being satisfied with apply a program whose design has not been
associated with it.
How, then, can Giuseppe Conte enter politics through the great gate of Palazzo Chigi? In the past, the academic said he had "rather a heart to the left," but had always stayed away from politics.
Never elected, he is one of those technocrats yet so much criticized by the two populist political parties. It was only for the elections of March 4 that he had campaigned for the M5S, getting involved as long as he was presented as a possible minister charged with "débureaucratiser" the public service.
How, then, can Giuseppe Conte enter politics through the great gate of Palazzo Chigi? In the past, the academic said he had "rather a heart to the left," but had always stayed away from politics.
Never elected, he is one of those technocrats yet so much criticized by the two populist political parties. It was only for the elections of March 4 that he had campaigned for the M5S, getting involved as long as he was presented as a possible minister charged with "débureaucratiser" the public service.
What to remember from the political mess in Italy
A political force must be
able to develop a useful program for citizens," Giuseppe Conte told the Fatto
Quotidiano recently, saying that he was seduced by the pragmatic side of the
5-star movement.
"Today, I think the ideological patterns of the 1900s are no longer relevant. I believe that it is more important to evaluate the work of a political force on its positioning in relation to rights and fundamental freedoms. "
"Today, I think the ideological patterns of the 1900s are no longer relevant. I believe that it is more important to evaluate the work of a political force on its positioning in relation to rights and fundamental freedoms. "
According to the British
daily The Guardian, Giuseppe Conte was the "brain" at the origin of
the proposal of the anti-system party to abolish four hundred laws deemed
"useless", to lighten an administration estimated as sprawling as
sclerosing.
No doubt, in any case, that the choice of this man, that the Italian presses, says "close to the Vatican and disciple of Padre Pio" (a mystical monk died in 1968 and canonized in 2002) will debate. Will he succeed in asserting a "Conte style", despite his technocrat profile, or will he be "the technical hostage of the parties," asks La Republic.
No doubt, in any case, that the choice of this man, that the Italian presses, says "close to the Vatican and disciple of Padre Pio" (a mystical monk died in 1968 and canonized in 2002) will debate. Will he succeed in asserting a "Conte style", despite his technocrat profile, or will he be "the technical hostage of the parties," asks La Republic.
"Not afraid "
"If indeed I become prime minister, it will be a challenge, a new adventure," said Giuseppe Conte to his relatives in recent days, according to the Italian press. "Every success begins with the decision to try," he also chose as a profile sentence on his WhatsApp account, paraphrasing John F. Kennedy.
"If indeed I become prime minister, it will be a challenge, a new adventure," said Giuseppe Conte to his relatives in recent days, according to the Italian press. "Every success begins with the decision to try," he also chose as a profile sentence on his WhatsApp account, paraphrasing John F. Kennedy.
The unlikely coalition of protesters Di Maio and Salvini
As a sign of a character that may be steeper than what it is said to be, the Corriere della Serra reported on Monday, May 21, remarks made to his relatives, saying that "it takes a certain degree of autonomy to drive. Seriously an executive ". The father of a ten-year-old boy, with whom he shared his passion for football, explained that he was "not afraid to take on the duties he was to be given". An assertion that does not prevent the most read Italian newspapers to fear, in turn, the birth of a "puppet" agitated behind the scenes by the two populist leaders, Pulcinella way and Scaramuccia.
As a sign of a character that may be steeper than what it is said to be, the Corriere della Serra reported on Monday, May 21, remarks made to his relatives, saying that "it takes a certain degree of autonomy to drive. Seriously an executive ". The father of a ten-year-old boy, with whom he shared his passion for football, explained that he was "not afraid to take on the duties he was to be given". An assertion that does not prevent the most read Italian newspapers to fear, in turn, the birth of a "puppet" agitated behind the scenes by the two populist leaders, Pulcinella way and Scaramuccia.
Pierre Moscovici: "We must respect the democratic
legitimacy" of the new Italian government
While Italy has a new Prime Minister in the person of Giuseppe Conte, Europe is worried about this new anti-system government. However, Pierre Moscovici, European Commissioner for the Economy and Finance, welcomes with moderation this new political actor. "We will work tomorrow with the next government whose democratic legitimacy must be respected," he said in an interview with Les Echos. Refusing to speculate and to position himself in the systematic opposition that "always makes the Eurosceptic win", he says that the Commission will focus on the "acts", the budget and the measures taken by the government bringing together the League and the 5-star movement.
While Italy has a new Prime Minister in the person of Giuseppe Conte, Europe is worried about this new anti-system government. However, Pierre Moscovici, European Commissioner for the Economy and Finance, welcomes with moderation this new political actor. "We will work tomorrow with the next government whose democratic legitimacy must be respected," he said in an interview with Les Echos. Refusing to speculate and to position himself in the systematic opposition that "always makes the Eurosceptic win", he says that the Commission will focus on the "acts", the budget and the measures taken by the government bringing together the League and the 5-star movement.
"It is too early to see the transalpine populist
axis as a new dominant model in Europe"
On the other hand, he does not favor greater flexibility in budgetary matters. "Italy has already benefited from all the existing flexibilities," says Pierre Moscovici daily, showing understanding with regard to "the frustration of the Italians in relation to the European project". "Italy, the third largest economy in the Eurozone, must also have confidence in itself. »
On the other hand, he does not favor greater flexibility in budgetary matters. "Italy has already benefited from all the existing flexibilities," says Pierre Moscovici daily, showing understanding with regard to "the frustration of the Italians in relation to the European project". "Italy, the third largest economy in the Eurozone, must also have confidence in itself. »
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