Alarm empty cradles, Pope Francis and Giorgia Meloni at the States General of Birth

06:41 12 May

Pope Francis and Giorgia Meloni open the second day of debate

Pope Francis and the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, will open the second and final day in Rome of the States General of the Birth Rate.

Today's program

8.15 am – GREETINGS FROM:
Gigi De Palo, President of the Foundation for the Birth
Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers
Pope Francis
BIRTH RATE PRODUCES WEALTH
Nicola Lanzetta, Director of Italy, Enel
Fabrizio Gavelli, Chairman and CEO Danone
Bernardo Mattarella, CEO of Invitalia, CEO of Allianz
Matteo Del Fante, CEO of Poste Italiane
Salvatore Rossi; TIM President
Dario Scannapieco, CEO and General Manager of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made In Italy
WITHOUT HOPE THERE IS NO FUTURE
Sergio Gatti, General Manager of Federcasse
Luigi Montano, Past President of the Italian Society of Human
Reproduction Pierluigi Sassi, President Earth Day Italy
Maria Antonietta Spadorcia, Deputy Director TG2
Luca Tomasi, Assogiocattoli
20.45
SANTO PIACERE
Theatrical performance by Giovanni Scifoni

06:56 12 May

President Mattarella's message at the opening of the meeting

"The Italian demographic structure shows an imbalance that must draw attention", wrote the President of the Republic in a message addressed to the States General of the Birth Rate: "The institutions have the responsibility to implement active policies that allow young couples to realize their life project, overcoming the difficulties of a material nature and access to services that make the path of parenthood difficult. This is a precise prescription of the Constitution which, in Article 31, recalls the Republic, "to facilitate with economic measures and other provisions the formation of the family and the fulfillment of related tasks, with particular regard to large families". Protecting "motherhood, childhood and youth, favoring the necessary institutions and this purpose".

Appropriate housing, fiscal and social policies, reconciling work-life balance, are fundamental issues for the development of families. The theme challenges young people in particular - said Mattarella - forced, often, to postpone the intention of forming an unexpected family of "better times", postponing the experience of parenthood until, at times, the definitive renunciation. The birth of a child is a sign of hope and continuity of communities".

06:52 12 May

Lollobrigida: "There is an Italian ethnic group, which I imagine in this conference we want to protect"

I think it is obvious to everyone that there is no Italian breed. It is a false problem to imagine a concept of this nature. However, there is a culture, an Italian ethnicity, what Treccani defines as a linguistic and cultural grouping, which I imagine that in this conference we tend to protect. Because otherwise it wouldn't make sense." This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture on the sidelines of the States General of the birth rate. "The population of the world is growing and many of those born in the world would like to come and live in Italy. So why worry about births in Italy? If the answer is to increase the birth rate, it is probably for reasons related to the defense of that belonging, to which many are linked, I in particular with pride, to what is Italian culture, to our linguistic stock, to our way of life", concluded Lollobrigida yesterday on the first day of the meeting. His words sparked criticism from the opposition.

06:54 12 May

Matteo Salvini: "I believe that the empty cradles emergency is national"

That of the falling birth rate "is a theme that must unite, because if in 50 years we will be 11 million less it is not a success for anyone. We need to help everyone to be able to afford to have children." This was said by Matteo Salvini, speaking at the event underway at the Auditorium of Rome. "In the labor decree the premiums for those who have children we have provided that they are detaxed", recalls the leader of the League. "We made a political choice," he recalls. "How is it a choice made in Hungary to detax women who have four children," she adds.

"I believe that the emergency empty cradles is national, without political color, providing a deduction for each child, we thought of 10 thousand euros, is something that everyone can agree on".

06:57 12 May

Elly Schlein: "There is a link between falling birth rates and precariousness of women"

"I very much agree on a structural approach to counteract the demographic collapse: the Democratic Party has spent itself to increase the single allowance, a fair and universal instrument". This was stated by the leader of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, also connected with the States General of the birth rate. "It is also important to encourage female employment, there is no opposition between the two instruments, indeed they go hand in hand. Then just reduce the weight of the first house in the calculation of the Isee. Then it is true that there is fear of the future: there is a link between falling birth rates and precariousness that mainly affects women, young people and southerners. That is why we are against fixed-term contracts. Then we are obsessed with increasing nurseries, increasing its access."