Italy: MEPs express Conte's confidence

The Italian House of Representatives has expressed confidence in the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. After a full-day meeting, 343 parliamentarians voted yes in the evening, 263 with no, and 3 abstained. On Tuesday, the Senate still has to vote on the new government.

Cabinet Conte was sworn in last Thursday. Previously, populist five-star movement and Social Democrats (PD) had agreed on a joint government. Conte's former five-star and right-wing Lega government also broke in August. The stars had insisted in the negotiations with the PD that the non-party Conte head of government remains.

Supporters of the Lega and the right-wing party Fratelli d'Italia had demonstrated in front of Parliament against the new alliance and called for new elections. In the evening, there was also a turbulent performance in the plenary session. Parliamentary President Roberto Fico (Five Stars) called several members of the Lega and the Fratelli for loud noises to order.

Conte wants to defuse Salvini's security decree

In the morning Conte had first presented his government program. He announces a less harsh migration policy and a critical but constructive dialogue with the EU. It needed an immigration policy that no longer assumed a "state of emergency". A controversial security decree should be defused. The second security package, which Lega leader Matteo Salvini had pushed through as Minister of the Interior, provides, inter alia, penalties for maritime rescue services of up to one million euros, if they invest with migrants rescued in the Mediterranean in Italy.

Of the EU's partners, Conte called for more "solidarity" and the creation of a "European humanitarian corridor" to bring refugees out of danger zones. He also said that European fiscal rules would have to be "improved" in order to boost economic growth and avoid the recessionary effects of austerity policies.