In diretta da Piacenza - tornare Italia

Summary

At a public event in Piacenza organized by several local associations, lawyer Marco Mori argues that Italy’s economic and political crisis stems from abandoning the model set out in the Constitution and accepting European rules that, in his view, restrict state action and prioritize market liberalism.

The Constitution and the Economy

Mori describes the Constitution’s economic framework as one in which the state should regulate, coordinate and, where necessary, control economic activity. He says its drafters viewed excessive wealth concentration and the free-market model as contributing to economic crises and political extremism. He considers European treaties and subsequent reforms incompatible with this constitutional approach.

Money, Public Debt and Austerity

Mori challenges the idea that the state must “find” money in the same way a household does. He argues that money is a means of exchange and that public deficits correspond to financial assets held by the private sector.

In his account, restricting government spending and maintaining primary surpluses withdraws money from the economy, weakening demand, production and employment. He says inflation is chiefly a risk when demand exceeds productive capacity, and argues that policy should be judged against real resources and unused labor rather than deficit targets alone.

The Euro and Financial-Market Power

Mori contends that euro membership, limits on central-bank financing and EU fiscal rules have deprived Italy of monetary autonomy and made it vulnerable to bond markets. As an example, he cites the 2011 crisis and the arrival of Mario Monti, linking key figures involved to the Trilateral Commission.

He also criticizes the role of private banks, arguing that lending creates bank money, while credit contractions can intensify economic crises and shift wealth toward larger financial institutions.

Concentration of Wealth and Privatization

Using the growth of Standard Oil and the Trilateral Commission as examples, Mori argues that concentrated economic power seeks to limit state intervention and shape political decisions.

He opposes privatizing essential services, saying public provision need not operate for profit. He points to energy, healthcare, transport and housing as areas where market incentives can conflict with public needs.

A Different Policy Direction

Mori advocates stronger public control of essential sectors, including possible nationalization of major banks, and industrial planning to secure domestic capacity in energy, food and healthcare. He argues that Italy should be able to withstand interruptions to international trade.

He presents Superbonus tax credits as a potentially useful, if limited, means of stimulating activity and creating a form of complementary currency. He also supports public employment schemes that would hire involuntarily unemployed people to perform needed work.

Political and Geopolitical Concerns

Mori criticizes both centre-right and centre-left governments, arguing that they have broadly maintained the same economic direction. He says public understanding is essential for building support for major changes, and criticizes politicians who once opposed EU constraints but later accepted them.

He links economic competition and austerity to geopolitical conflict, discussing the dollar-centered postwar system, the BRICS bloc, Ukraine and the risks of worsening tensions between major powers. He also argues that economic and military interventions can generate crises such as migration, rather than migration being the root cause of those problems.

Social Consequences

The discussion touches on rising poverty, housing insecurity and pressure on public services. Mori argues that the state should take responsibility for housing and social support rather than leaving landlords or private firms to serve as the safety net. He also says public investment helped Italy rebuild and industrialize after the war.

Presenters and Contributors

• Marco Mori — Lawyer and principal speaker.
• Giampaolo — Moderator and interviewer.
• Unnamed event host — Gave the opening remarks.