A week later, the new Bills decree is still postponed, with which the government, after a long discussion with Brussels, intends to set a price on the gas ceiling to lower the costs of electricity and gas for families and businesses.
Work is underway for the green light on Monday, but in the meantime, like last Wednesday, during the meeting it emerged again that not everything is ready. With a mystery: first government sources reported the need for some Arera resolutions, then the statement from Palazzo Chigi indicated as the reason a "further dialogue with the EU" and the "consequent checks by the Ministry of Economy and Finance".
All at the end of a Council of Ministers in which the government challenged the League-led law on the end of life of Veneto, and chose two Northern League members for as many important appointments: the deputy Giulio Centemero, member of Consob (whose presidency in recent months Matteo Salvini attempted in vain to appoint Federico Freni) and Trifone 'Nuccio' Altieri as the new president of the National Anti-Corruption Authority (Giuseppe Busia remains in office until the appointment is formalised).
A scandal, the opposition attacks. "A double victory for Salvini", rejoice the Northern League members, who at the same time have to surrender to the arrival, announced by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, of the new long-awaited military aid package for Ukraine, a topic also followed closely at the Quirinale.
The new examination of the Bollette decree was preceded in recent days by tensions within Confindustria, with the split by Elettricità Futura, the association of Italian electricity companies, on a war footing for the 700 million budget contribution requested from energy companies, and for the price cap on the price of gas for electricity production, foreseen by the Bollette decree.
It is no coincidence that on the eve of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni had received the president of Confindustria Emanuele Orsini, who then defined the Bollette decree as "a first step" and a "great sacrifice also on the part of energy producers", underlining that "at this moment the word responsibility is fundamental". During the meeting, the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto illustrated the provision on bills. For Mase the text is definitive. Before the official note from Palazzo Chigi, government sources had indicated the need for Arera obligations (which establishes the amount of reimbursement to producers of electricity with gas, to compensate them for the difference between the market price and the price cap), explaining that the General Accounting Office of the State had already asked for clarification on the time alignment between the resources and their use on the eve of last week's session, as always happens.
However, sources from the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment say that there are no delays. And then a new article on the gas ceiling would have been introduced, so time is needed to study the mechanism. In short, it is not certain that we will arrive in time for Monday, when the government plans to resolve the stalemate and approve the measure in the Council of Ministers, together with an Infrastructure decree announced by Salvini.
Meanwhile, in Parliament, opposition has already been raised against the start of the nomination procedure for Centemero and Altieri. The first, attacks Angelo Bonelli of Avs, "is the former treasurer of the League and today is group leader of the Northern League in the Finance Committee of the Chamber. It is a fact of unprecedented gravity, which goes beyond all limits. The law is very clear. Consob commissioners must be people of 'undisputed morality and independence'". With an "irresponsible and very serious choice" the government "bends a guarantee institution like the Anac to the logic of political belonging", the PD's attack on Altieri, already head of the Defense department of the League and since spring on Leonardo's board of directors. "Beyond the subdivision - comments Carlo Calenda -. But much beyond. What a shame."
