Stefani: "Zaia and Garavaglia in the secretariat can help the League. End of the road? I have confidence in the Constitutional Court"

“The government’s decision falls within the remit of the Council of Ministers. But I am convinced that the Constitutional Court will uphold the framework of our law on end-of-life care.” So said the governor of Veneto, Alberto Stefani, to SkyTg24 after the government decided yesterday to challenge the end-of-life law of the region administered by the former League MP. Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini did not take part in either the debate or the vote, whilst the Minister for Regional Affairs, Roberto Calderoli – also a member of the League – spoke out against the challenge, arguing that it is a statutory law which merely sets out guidelines in accordance with the regulations already in force.

“The law does not introduce medically assisted suicide,” explained Stefani, “it simply chooses to regulate certain aspects that were previously decided at provincial level by individual health authorities. Furthermore, our law underwent an amendment process and provided for psychological counselling for the person requesting medically assisted suicide. Anyone who claims that regional laws introduce it is making a substantial and legal falsehood.”

There is also coverage of the budget and healthcare. This is an issue on which – as we write here – the clashes between the government and the regions governed by the ruling coalition are particularly bitter. Regarding transfers to the regions for healthcare in the Budget Bill, “an effort has been made, but it is now important, during the amendment phase, to have a significant impact on healthcare matters”, stated the President of Veneto, who added that “the path is still open, and on this I believe the regions must play a significantly influential role”. The regions have jointly called for an increase in funding for healthcare expenditure. We know that over 80 per cent of regional budgets consist of the healthcare fund, and we need to address the demographic challenges and strategic decisions facing our region. In addition to this – he continued – there are the major challenges of waiting lists and healthcare infrastructure; some progress has been made on this with this budget, but as the parliamentary process is now underway, I know that a great deal can be achieved within the committees and in the Chamber during the amendment phase, and I am absolutely convinced that the regions and the political representatives – that is, the MPs – from their respective regions will be able to ensure these demands, which are the demands of us all, are upheld,” he stated.

Stefani is also expected to attend the Lega’s Federal Council meeting, scheduled for 3 pm in Via Bellerio. Among the most sensitive issues to be addressed is undoubtedly the motion of no confidence in the group leader at Palazzo Madama, Massimiliano Romeo, which was called for through a petition: specifically, almost all 29 Lega members in the Senate have signed (with the exception of Romeo, Salvini and a few absentees) to call for him to step down. “There was a party congress in the League with a clear outcome; the squabbles have been put behind us,” said the governor of Veneto. “The group leader is the voice of his members: they will decide what to do.” Stefani went on to say he was in favour of the possibility of Massimo Garavaglia – a League senator who challenged Salvini for the party leadership – and also the former governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia, joining the League’s political secretariat. “They are two highly capable figures who could be involved in the running of the political secretariat. They can help the party.”