It’s not just the row over end-of-life care. Healthcare, the housing plan, energy: these are the areas of conflict between the government and right-wing regions

It is challenging a law such as the one on end-of-life care in the Veneto region, governed by the Lega, thereby splitting the party (Minister Calderoli votes against the Council of Ministers’ decision, whilst Salvini abstains). Meanwhile, regions across the board, including those governed by the centre-right, are protesting against the lack of funding allocated to healthcare. In the background, there are still lingering tensions over the management (and funding) of the ‘Piano Casa’ housing scheme and energy measures. The precarious relations between the government and the regions governed by the ruling coalition – which had already clashed over healthcare in the past – have now perhaps reached an all-time low.

It is probably all a coincidence, as the government had until 7 November to challenge the regional law on end-of-life care passed by the Veneto region. Yet it is striking – at least given the timing – that this decision (with Salvini abstaining and Calderoli voting against in the Council of Ministers, given the ‘constitutional’ nature of the text) came at a time of already intense confrontation between Meloni and the regions governed by the right. The President of Veneto, Alberto Stefani, who is close to Salvini, speaks of a law that “will pass the Constitutional Court’s scrutiny”. Zaia stands by the legislation even whilst respecting the government’s decision.

Just the day before yesterday, the Conference of Regions – chaired by the governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Massimiliano Fedriga – issued a statement setting out in black and white all the discontent towards Rome: “The resources allocated to healthcare in the budget are insufficient. We are calling for an increase in the National Health Fund.” So much so that shortly afterwards, one of the leaders of Fratelli d’Italia, Lucio Malan, the party’s leader in the Senate, was quick to respond: “It is clear that it would be wonderful to have infinite resources, but resources are, by definition, limited.” However, the fact that tensions were not set to ease any time soon was made clear by the fierce clash that took place yesterday between the Lombardy Region’s Welfare Councillor, Guido Bertolaso, and the Lega. “I read that someone has asked for four billion for a matter relating to retirement at 64. I believe that nobody wants to retire at 64 anymore; life expectancy has increased, so people can carry on working. I am one such example. If those four billion were allocated to healthcare, I believe it would be a move appreciated by all citizens,” said the councillor, referring to the Lega’s proposal. The Lega responded with a sharp statement: “We do not accept that, in order to fund one right, we must take away from another. Pensioners cannot be fleeced to fund healthcare,” wrote regional councillors Emanuele Monti and Giovanni Malanchini in a statement. Rather, “resources must also be recouped by reviewing welfare measures that lack selectivity, combating abuse and interventions that end up favouring those who are not actually entitled, including immigrants”. Still on the healthcare front, the governors of the north had taken a dim view, before the summer, of the shelving of the Schillaci reform on general practitioners, which jeopardised the opening of community care homes. But misunderstandings in recent months have also arisen over other issues: starting with the Housing Plan. In June, the regions once again highlighted various shortcomings and a lack of resources in local-level management. On that occasion, the abstentions of the governors of Lombardy and Abruzzo, Fontana and Marsilio, also contributed to the approval of the centre-left presidents’ complaints (whilst the others did not take part in the vote). On energy issues as well, during the first intervention on utility bills, a row was narrowly averted because some regional presidents – including, once again, Fontana for Lombardy – criticised the introduction of regulations that disadvantaged the local hydroelectric sector.

Regarding the use of cohesion funds, the concern – shared even by centre-right regional presidents – was that they would become a ‘cash machine’ at the government’s disposal for measures not agreed with them (even the president of Veneto, Alberto Stefani, had complained). Then there is the issue of the single Special Economic Zone (ZES), which the government has promised to extend to the north as well. Right from the start, the government, through Minister Urso, had made it clear that there would be no new funding, but rather simplifications. “But what’s the point without money?” Fontana had pressed at the time. Yet the inertia with which the dossier is being handled is also striking. So much so that even some of Fontana’s colleagues, speaking off the record, voice a suspicion: “In the end, you’ll see, nothing will come of it.”