ROME “I take full responsibility”. At nine in the evening, when Giuseppe Conte answers the phone from Palazzo Chigi, everything has already happened. The sensational step backwards by Eugenio Gaudio, the brawl that tears apart the majority and the bombardment of the right for the chain of gaffes, torpedoes and retreats on the Commissioner of Health in Calabria. The opening words of the premier, who admits the “missteps” and hopes to find “the right person” as soon as possible, is clear: “I take full responsibility”. He repeats it once, twice, five times, because it is clear that there is an urgent need to regroup the majority: «No crack has opened for a simple reason. It was a process shared with all the ministers involved ».
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Conte does not want to talk about the clash between the Democratic Party and the 5 Stars on the Mes and on the other dossiers: «Very strong tensions? I would not say … There is the right concern and strong regret for not having yet found the optimal solution for the Calabrian community ». The commissioner “of high professional caliber” has not yet been found, but Conte promises an “immediate turning point”, which has the name and surname of Gino Strada. The founder of Emergency will not take Gaudio’s place as commissioner: “In the many talks in recent days he has never declared that he is interested in this profile and I have never proposed it to him, considering he was not interested in moving to Calabria to settle the chasm of accounts ».
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But from today Strada will be there to lend a hand on the emergency front: “The new fact is that following the confrontation in Civil Protection with Boccia and Borrelli we have signed an agreement by virtue of which, as I have hoped, Emergency will be operational as of tomorrow (today, ed) for the emergency in Calabria with field hospitals and will collaborate in creating Covid hotels “. To calm the very strong tensions that the Calabria case has brought to the surface, the prime minister takes on the weight of the fool that has made the government lose face: «I take all responsibility. Not only of the fact that the designation of Gaudio was not successful, but also of the previous designations ».
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Of Cotticelli, who without his knowledge had to draw up the plan for the re-entry of the financial chasm and who, Conte admits, “turned out to be in trouble in that role and indeed I’m sorry that it turned out so late.” Even the apologies arrive late, with the helmsman who, in the storm, struggles to drive the yellow and red caravel. “And I’m sorry – continues Conte – also for not having resolved for the Calabrian healthcare with the second designation, that of Zuccatelli ». The man chosen by Roberto Speranza was forced to resign due to the gaffe of the masks that “they do not serve a c …”, and here too Conte admits the slip: “I manage many dossiers, I do not have the possibility to carry out detailed checks, but it is evident that the responsibilities can only fall primarily on me, if they involve the government ”. Are relations with the Minister of Health at a minimum? “Absolutely not. The decision-making process developed in full comparison with all the ministers directly involved ». As if to say that he did not choose alone. And since Speranza would have liked to keep Zuccatelli, Conte confirms that the person is of “absolute competence”. But then that embarrassing video appeared, with those “inappropriate statements that have opened a wound with the Calabrian community”. A wound that the premier wanted to heal with Gaudio’s “high profile” (“It struck me, I didn’t know he was from Calabria”), but then it turned out that his wife does not want to move to Catanzaro. Is this just the reason for the step backwards? Or did the suspicions weigh on the contest at Sapienza in which Conte wanted to participate with Gaudio rector? “I can keep the suspicions away, but it’s hard to get rid of the nonsense. Never had relations with the rector Gaudio as a candidate ».
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And does Arcuri, another Calabrian, have something to do with it? «No, Gaudio is a name that rises by itself. Let’s not fantasize ». Could it not have been for the investigation into the rigged competitions or the vehement protests of the 5 Stars? “As for family problems – Conte merely replies – the rector reported them to me in a transparent manner, trusting to be able to overcome them”.
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November 17, 2020 (change November 17, 2020 | 23:48)
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