Parliamentary Political News, edition of 21 May 2024

We talk about: taxi strike, compulsory military service, European elections, Cardinal Zuppi

TAXI STRIKE, THE UNIONS: “ALMOST TOTAL MEMBERSHIP”< br>

Taxi strike throughout Italy. “The membership is almost total”, the unions rejoice. Taxi drivers stopped their cars from 8am to 10pm and took to the streets “to counter the illegitimate use of rental authorizations – they explain – and safeguard their autonomy and independence from the slavery of algorithms and multinationals”. The focus is on the increase in licenses decided in various cities starting from Rome, Milan and Florence, but also the competition with rental cars with driver, in particular those that can be booked through Uber. A meeting with the government is scheduled for Monday. If no results arrive, they warn, “we are ready to strike again for 48 hours, close to the European elections”.

MANDATORY LEVER, SALVINI’S PROPOSAL SPLITS THE POLITICS

Six months of mandatory civil or military service. The League has filed a bill to reintroduce compulsory military service. “It’s a form of civic education,” says Matteo Salvini. However, almost no one likes the idea, not even the majority. “It would be too expensive”, Antonio Tajani immediately distances himself. The opposition rejects it in unison. “We want the future in the hands of young people – replies Elly Schlein – not the rifle”. “Kids don’t need helmets – echoes Giuseppe Conte – but an Italy of rights”. Centrists and the Green Left Alliance are also against. For Italia Viva “Salvini is in full Vannacci syndrome”.

EUROPEAN. TAJANI AND CALENDA MEET THE CNA

The June vote for the renewal of the European Parliament is important to count more in Europe. This was underlined by the leaders of Forza Italia and Azione, Antonio Tajani and Carlo Calenda, when they met the artisans of the Cna. For the deputy prime minister “without Europe we are going nowhere. When I hear ‘less Europe’ these are things without effectiveness and logical sense, without Europe we are weak and defenseless”, warns Tajani. Calenda focuses on skills because, he underlines, “today Italy is twenty-fifth out of twenty-seven in terms of influence in the European Parliament”. For the Five Star Movement, the group leader in the Senate Stefano Patuanelli asks that “the single market takes into account the peculiarities of the countries, ours is a country where artisans have a central role”.

CARDINALE ZUPPI: “WORRIED BY STATE-HEALTH COUNTRY”

“The country’s state of health is of particular concern. It is increasingly difficult to escape from the abyss of poverty”. The cry of alarm comes from the president of the CEI, Matteo Zuppi, during his introduction to the work of the general assembly of the Italian bishops. The cardinal draws attention to the generation gap: “Young people – he explains – are increasingly exposed to economic difficulties and the void created by those who tend to distance themselves from political participation and volunteering is increasing”. For Zuppi, “these problems increase in the internal areas of the country”. Which however, “if supported in a strategic vision, can become places of welcome for all, also in reference to emigration – underlines the president of the CEI – which must represent an opportunity as well as a necessity”.