Speech by Mario Monti in Padua, February 5, 2013

Thank you. I'm really very excited and when I made that decision, which led me to be here with you this evening, I have to say I lived mostly thoughtful moments but overall pretty bitter, because it was said that I did something unethical and so on , and already my personal feeling is that I assure you I would have pushed to confront so many people like those I see gathered here this evening. But tonight you are giving me perhaps the first moment of real joy. And for that I thank you really. I find it extraordinary that so many people are here, obviously you have also had a great organizing ability, that's good hope about the future, including the short-term of 24 and 25 February. Ilaria Capua gave me an advance of this joy of mine tonight, because once the decision to go up, as now they say in politics, but there it is, because politics is something that deserves the greatest respect and greater attention and so it is also an attitude of humility on the part of those who make this step, say that you have to climb. Well, I made that decision, I had to try a number of accomplices, and of people who were willing to share the risk. And I started with other friends to do a number of phone calls, meetings. I made clear to my interlocutors that I addressed only to the people for whom I knew that choose to run entailed a high personal cost. because the motivation of a person in making a gesture, in making a choice, is measured by the cost involved for that person to make that choice. So, when I phoned Ilaria Capua, who did not know, but I knew by reputation, I was not very confident that, as it is launched in its research activities, respond positively to a strange call of this type. In fact, I must say, in his case it took two phone calls, not one as in some other case. Pero 'after a quick reflection I think that lasted a night or so, there is waterfall, fortunately. With great generosity. To feel more comfortable this evening, because Ilaria has brandished the key to his honorary citizenship, let me say that I feel a little 'a bit too' Padua, because I have a degree Onoris because the University of Padua, just one option of which we heard a brilliant student in law. But in Padua this evening I received another title that I never thought about getting in my life: I was told rottamatore, as I understand it. This not propagandatelo in Rome, but it gives me an intimate little satisfaction. Thanks to the various interventions, which contained both observations, both specific proposals, many of the comments and questions, which I will take up in minutes of my speech untidy; because something was prepared, but the stresses are such and so many that I prefer to react a bit 'emotionally, which I never do is reprimanded. Three words struck me, they are not all original but are the three words that I take back because I would make a few comments on the thread of these words. Dignity, democracy, growth. Dignity is something that was mentioned to us Italians like to have, and we have also the attitude often autoderisorio, but we have to be a little 'careful because when we do it in the presence of foreigners or overseas then maybe take us seriously and we make with interest this derision. We must esteem more. However then we are sorry when we are not respected. I tell you one thing that has driven my share in the first months of government that were the most difficult, because actually we always had in his pocket the multiplication table of how many bonds the state had to issue by the end of the month to be able to pay salaries and pensions. In my meetings, I realized that the French President and the President Merkel had the multiplication table with Italian data, because they were afraid that Italy jumped. Well, at that time I was very honored to have been called by President Napolitano and I also realized how serious it was my responsibility, not only to Italy but also to the president who had called me, taking a huge risk. And then by the parliament, who had voted very wide confidence. In those first months very difficult I have received many requests from Germany, the European Union, even from the United States: "Why do not you want to feel more comfortable and you do not want to make us all feel calmer asking and accepting a financial rescue of ' Italy? We will all be safer. Of course we will do as we did - they said - in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, a kind of receivership pushed: will arrive in Rome a troika "(the name itself is a little 'left in the linguistic sense ...) , "comes the troika, the International Monetary Fund, European Commission, European Central Bank, is installed and they will tell you what to do, and so on." It was a big risk to say 'no thanks', but' this is how Italy has recovered its dignity, because we did it with our own strength. We did not ask a single euro loan to anyone, we did our many sacrifices, you know very well and I did not ask for sadism all these sacrifices Italians! We did it with our own strength. Not only that, but since I feel just as European as I feel Italian, some of you may know that I worked for ten years in Europe, the European Commission; On that occasion I made a point of honor, also of dignity, never to say in parliament or the Italian public that certain sacrifices and had to impose certain restrictions because it was Europe that we asked for it. I always said we should make these sacrifices because they were made in the past and because we want to leave our children and grandchildren a situation a bit 'less precarious. In addition, Europe has certain rules that we have helped to form, they ask, how to ask others, to keep certain behaviors. Today Italy has its say and says it with force when necessary, in international fora and in Europe. Do not think that this is an element of dignity or respect or prestige that interesting to those who govern. No! This affects the whole country, because more and more, especially those of us who belong to the union of the European countries, we are in a context where an increasing share of the most important decisions for our national life is taken in Brussels, in the union European. Well, it is important to express themselves with full force in that context. If we had asked for loans, instead, ... Step to the second point, which is that of democracy. I am pleased to have been remembered democracy and a risk to democracy that comes from exasperation to the short term. We all remember a famous phrase of Alcide de Gasperi: "The politician looks to future policies, the statesman looks to the next generation." I'm not quite statesman at this time, I look at the next election, but 'I want to emphasize as a trap for democracy, but in all democratic countries, not only in Italy, is undue attention to what happens tomorrow and the excessive inattention to what is happening to our children, to future generations. I think it's very important, in the Italian political debate, make a habit of watching the effects of the decisions that are taken or not taken on the future generations, our children, our grandchildren. Arrival at the subject of growth, at the same time giving the concrete reason for which we nominate. Well, the strict policy that we were forced to do in order not to end up like some other country has been successful. Today it is considered that the Italian public finances is one of the most stable in industrial countries. We have achieved a balanced budget in structural terms, ie net of the economic cycle, in 2013. It was simultaneously made several structural reforms, which have affected the liberalization, the opening up to competition, the labor market and so on, certain reductions public spending, which give the opportunity to look at the growth now, because we have set the stage for growth. The Fund, in a report published a few days ago, is estimated at nearly 6% growth in GDP in more than Italy will have in five years, if realize promptly the structural reforms that we put in the pipeline . Plus it will become 10 and a half percent in a few years. So, the reason for our choice, to introduce, to aspire to participate again at the helm of the country, is simply this: a) we do not want the sacrifices made by Italians are dispelled and we have already seen how fast these days may be the their dissipation through promises risky; b) we want to go ahead with these structural reforms is to modernize the economy, but also the Italian company, because of these structural reforms is, for example, a law stronger than the one we have adopted a few months ago against or corruption. There is the restoration of false accounting, there is a discipline against conflicts of interest, all things to which the right has demonstrated a certain allergy. Just as we believe that the interests of workers, the unemployed and young people who can not find work we need to do a few more steps to make the labor market more flexible and dynamic, something against which a part of the left has many strengths. Hence our task to try to unite the reformists, I would say from the pole regardless of residence. We want to overcome the dynamic of the two poles that have made a big battle to end two decades without much and what ended ended in emergency conditions, in the last year or year and a half, with a form of collaboration between the three poles but resorting to a caretaker government. There has been rightly objected, "but you are proposing policies that Italians have not had electoral support." Now we seek the consensus of the political election, appears in them a certain nervousness about the fact that we do it. The Veneto and the northeast clearly represent the vanguard organization of the nation, entrepreneurs, artisans, merchants, third sector, show that it is possible to hold up even in the most difficult and hard. Italians know very well in such conditions existed in the country in 2011 and what we had to do. There are some problems that can be overcome only with the growth, which is now the major theme on the agenda of our country, provided that at the same time you face a new season of finance irresponsibly cheerful. So to have the growth, there are several things I want to talk very briefly telegraph. We think of a special plan for youth employment, which is to implement the lines of action indicated and partly financed by the European Union, because every young person is offered a efficient service of educational and vocational guidance and within four months an opportunity to work, apprenticeship or training targeted. And we also think, at least in certain areas of Italy, who need it most, in a real check that the young man will bring with it because his choices are supported university or entry into the profession. Sorry if I proceed in a disorderly manner, but I conclude quickly. We are here in the heart of an area of ​​great industrial base, with companies of all kinds, with cooperatives etc., and the real economy Italian, beyond finance, has four pillars: the manufacturing industry, energy , of the building; quality agriculture; tourism; lalogistica. The industry, particularly the manufacturing and construction industries, was the pillar most affected by the global economic crisis, the subsequent crisis of sovereign debt in Europe and our crisis -ahimè - made in Italy. The new tax, the imu and the increase dell'i.va represent measures introduced by our government not to a particular inclination to pay tax, but because the previous government, in trouble as all or almost all - remember - the summer of 2011, had made a commitment with Europe very heavy, because He had to acquire suddenly a lost credibility. Then he brought forward to 2013 to try to impress the markets, the self-imposed obligation to balance the budget. Those who came later had to continue with this goal and we had, unfortunately, raise taxes and we know that this involved, especially for businesses, not only for families, a big blow. Exports went very well, but is not enough. The crucial problem of low growth of Italian and Italian industrial production, which is now far below pre-crisis levels, does not reside in exports and external competitiveness, but in the weakness of the domestic market, accentuated necessarily and unfortunately with the measures that we had to take. So we wondered, in recent times, what they expect from politics in this emergency, which has become productive financial, industrials furniture Brianza and high livenla, the footwear brands and Veneto, entrepreneurs and robotics equipment for industry, agricultural machinery, pumps, valves, scattered between Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto. What answers can we give to the districts of Biella, Prato, Castelgoffredo, those food of the South, to the producers of wines triveneto for example, to industrial mechatronics, biomedical etc .. To revive immediately the manufacturing industry and construction, which are the engine of the Italian economy, our "choice civic" has identified a compact package of four measures to be implemented as soon as possible, that this evening to take this opportunity to mention and outline: 1) lengthen the time until the end of 2014 Deductions tax relating to restructuring, extending to furniture, to allow for an immediate resumption of the building, even if they are needed for longer-term structural measures of social housing and infrastructure, on which a majority of government should have the courage to give concrete answers: The Our choice civic also supports fully the idea of ​​Confederation to make immediate structural incentives for energy efficiency in buildings. World leaders in the export, furniture, tiles, ceramics, frames, technology of heat and cold, we have to raise our domestic market of these products. 2) Energy cheaper, extending the benefits also to textiles, and to members of quasi-fiscal bill for manufacturing enterprises. We believe that the definition of energy-intensive sectors, who eat a lot of energy, which benefit from reduced prices of energy, should be revised and no longer based on the absolute consumption of energy, but on the 'intensity of use thereof. In this way it falls between sectors energievori also textiles, so far not considered energy-intensive, considered instead by high energy costs compared to its main competitors, even though it is one of the pillars of the made in Italy. 3) existing incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises that face international markets for subsidized loans intended to finance feasibility studies, market studies and other things that are important to the esporzione. 4) Return purchasing power to households and reduce the tax burden on workers and companies. Someone very annoyed, because it would put me in a glass case, imbalsamarmi as the one who put his taxes, and point. It seems contradictory that the one who put his taxes, fulfilling obligations to Europe taken by his predecessor, then, when the economic situation, thanks to the sacrifices of all changes, can afford to speak of gradual and responsible tax cuts. And we, in fact, no proposals miraculous, but without adequate funding, we can begin to lighten the imu on the first house since 2013, with the increase in deductions for dependent children for the elderly and for people with disabilities. In our program, which has already been made public, it is also expected to start reducing IRPEF, IRAP, not the increase of the i.va addition to exclude property taxes. We believe that this is responsible. Then one thing that some do not like to hear, but it is pure economic analysis, let me, is the ability to reduce taxes, gradually, responsibly, without miracles. This also depends on two things. 1) If a government and a majority have the determination to continue in a serious fight against tax evasion, this means more revenue and therefore mean, for your money, have more chances to reduce the tax rates for taxpayers faithful and honest. This impacts particularly if some signs of this hypothesis. 2) To have that famous credibility, I hope any Italian government to have, but we know that our government has had, it gives some comfort to continue the effort, if we are called to do so. Because this has to do with taxes? Why the credibility interest rates can be a bit 'lower, the spread will be lower and have saved money, money "big" and this avoids the keeping of high taxes. I mentioned two reasons, but there is one 3) third I say here particularly, and explain why we are participating in a political operation. It 'obvious that to reduce gradually and responsibly the taxes you have to reduce public spending. It's what we've done with spending rewev, which began operations incisively. It was mentioned the case of the provinces, we found our obstacles, because having to depend on the parliament, not having, unlike what will be after February 25, a parliamentary group our (we hope numerous). That is, every time we had to go to parliament, with a hoard of scratch marks and have the votes (and there have been, I want to give place, because it was noted that the support in particular the third pole, in particular udc us They gave, pleased that our government would embody the strategic perspective of overcoming the bipolarity that first identified, well, they gave us a very considerable support in terms of support in parliament even when measures were in touch interests of categories nearby. "Because you these are accompanied by members of the old policy? ", someone told us. We are not so presumptuous as to think that only in our society there are serious and energy available to the reforms. I have seen this work group, in the central part These groups in the central part of the parliament, who were the first, among parliamentarians, since the major limitations of the bipolar conflict and encourage such broad perspective of convergence; that's why we said, "well, we are open to this common discourse, especially since the two lists but not civic policies in question have agreed that the gentleman who puts a bit 'scared just looking at him, called Enrico Bondi, who handled the spending review, he was commissioned to investigate the possession of all the most stringent requirements for the other parties that we have imposed on themselves for all our candidates). Well, I believe that a political force as this is more free from constraints of time taken in proximity to certain categories you expect certain protections, certain protections, certain subsidies, and therefore has the most cards in order, if we will be courageous and strong, for actually reduce government spending and then in order to actually reduce more taxes, without jeopardizing essential services. There were specific questions such as the Stability Pact for municipalities. Here, even here we must try to tell the truth: because today even the virtuous community are limited in investments and payments? Because the situation in Italy was such that no longer believed the seriousness of the Italians. Today Italians have regained this dignity! Woe to go back, now that we have grown we can improve existing without creating false expectations. Also with regard to the municipalities, towns that I started to learn (the mayors are the figure closer to citizens, have a difficult job, the mayor of a big city, I said it at a time not suspect, I think it was more difficult than to the prime minister. Now I have found that it is not easy even to be president of the board ... but the mayors are the first party public and social us citizens). For this we need to actually look, while respecting the constraints of the public finances, to place margins because the virtuous community - and there are many in Italy - may have some extra space, especially for investment! There was also among the many questions and interesting considerations a university, which I liked even in the formulation, when the student had said, not only complaining, even if in passing complained about many things, said: " how can you exploit the very positive that I see every day? ". Here too, the situation of Italian universities is not bright, the world of research, Dr. Ilaria Capua could talk more deeply about me, but the world of the university, which is permeated with that of research, has also suffered because so many decisions in the past decades have been struggling with a strictly political. For example, it was necessary that every province had its university, which pleases the citizens and especially to the politicians, but that did not benefit the average level of the Italian universities. Then it not always felt the wind of competition also in teaching and research, here know of preaching to the converted, must feel; then it is clear that if universities are boxed as they were years ago (then came new reforms), but they are boxed in a system that protects from the competition, and all the power of the teachers, it is easy for you to become barons and Us chair not as good but - I do not mean the parent, because I do not think this has ever happened in Italian universities - but the friend or even what you hear, say, as a participant intellectually close to their school. They can also be noble things but not always in line with the improvement of quality. That is why even in the university system believe we need - and Italy is making slow steps in this situation - to introduce more culture of evaluation, more transparency in governance, and so on. Then there is the question of funds. I suggest, that I have been a professor, dean, president of university, I suggest you do not believe those academics who denounce, as the first and only cause of the malfunction of the universities, the shortage of funds. Why is there too, but not all them '. Circuitous route through various topics, I must say that the presence of so many people, the attention that has been paid, the enthusiasm of the interventions that we have heard, are all factors that have encouraged me to go into disorder, because I did not want too much to discipline in this moment of joy. And because this joy is steady, bear fruit in time and allows us to try to turn for the better Italy, you have to get busy day and night in the coming weeks.
