Luigi Di Maio's world view was clear for many years: the Social Democrats of the Partito Democratico (PD) were "the evil of Italy," was the political leader of the five-star movement. A bunch of "wretched figures who are only interested in parliamentary seats" who "allow themselves to be paid by the Roman mafia", hence "political criminals" who should be "kicked out".
The newspaper "La Voce del Trentino" has compiled 23 such statements in order to clarify the monstrous experiment the parties in Rome are planning: to form a common and durable government of PD and the Five Stars. That is what star frontman Di Maio had repeatedly "categorically ruled out". After all, his party had been founded as a "reaction to the PD" and its "perverse concept of democracy".
The Social Democratic tendency to collaborate with the "serial liar" Di Maio, as PD top candidate Zingaretti called the future partner, this "jackal, who always only votes", was not very pronounced. That would "make sick," agreed to the Compagno Zingaretti exceptionally even ex-government and -PD CEO Matteo Renzi.
How much future can such a marriage have hated each other?
Just a matter of nerves
The risk of failure is great. The political ideas of both partners are sometimes far apart. Both parties are plagued by similar problems. They are torn inside. In both cases, it can come at any time internally to the uprising, for political-programmatic or personal reasons. Because in both party leaders are waiting to put themselves at the top. And be it through the destruction of the newly forming coalition.
It is also not easy in terms of content. A problem of the new government is the increase in VAT, which the previous government had written as a stopgap against even higher, not tolerated by the EU sovereign debt in the law. That would burden each family on average with 541 euros in 2020. That would not be good. To avoid this, 23 billion euros have to come from next year: through other taxes, spending cuts or new state loans. None of this is very popular among the people.
This gives the politician a boost that made the old government fail to become head of government - and now in the opposition is: Lega boss Matteo Salvini. Any unpopular decision by the new government is a chance for him to reverse his surprise descent.
Neither Social Democrats nor Five Stars want early elections
On the other hand, the interest of the new governing parties is to have a stable alliance. This speaks against an early end to the unusual experiment.
- An early failure would hurt both government partners. But the majority of Italians now want a government and not a new crisis
- The originator of the failure would probably be particularly punished in elections
- Salvini's popularity could plummet in opposition when the government appears closed and successfully governs
The signals from the capital markets and from Brussels also have a stabilizing effect. Some reduce the interest burden on Italy's debt. The others signal that Italy will be accommodated in the financial negotiations as far as possible.
Also helpful could be the idea of an at least partially occupied with non-party experts Cabinet. There is even support from the founder of the five-star movement, ex-comedian Beppe Grillo.
The experts could then take over the part of the boos - those who sell Italy to "the one in Brussels" or whatever the right-wing national Lega opposition will attack the outcome of the EU's autumn negotiations. The governing parties would just have to keep their nerve and survive the expected sludge battle sovereign.
Marital guarantors: Conte and Mattarella
Crucial could be that a few of the players have gained a strong profile, especially the governing and future Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. It is not that long ago that he was regularly turned off by star boss Di Maio like a schoolboy. A scene recorded TV cameras in early June 2018 in Parliament: The freshly crowned Conte answers to a parliamentarian. When there is applause, he turns to Di Maio and asks: "May I say that ..." Short answer: "No". It was clear to everyone: A puppet sits in the Roman government palazzo Chigi. A laugh number.
Alberto Pizzoli / AFP
Luigi Di Maio: The five-star politician has lost to profile, Premier Conte has won
Today Conte is the politician in the country that most voters trust - 52 percent, twelve percentage points more than in May. By contrast, according to a recent survey, Salvini has clearly lost confidence (from 51 percent to 36 percent). Star founder Grillo cheers Conte downright: "He has given us the dignity." The government chief now off politically do not go.
And then there is one who has decisively organized this formation of the government and will also defend the new one as far as possible: President Sergio Mattarella. This is the main guarantor of a longer existence of this political marriage among hated ones. Because nobody trust the Italians more than him.