Altero Matteoli

"The investigations into Freemasonry and the links between lodges and the Mafia must lead to the political accountability of Ms Anselmi and her commission on P2. What has come to light was already known at the time, but Ms Anselmi, acting on behalf of the party system, refused to shed light on Freemasonry."

"I have always been opposed to abortion; for me, it is legalised murder. It is a position I have always held. But I have never spoken of reforming Law 194, partly because there is no reference to its reform in the government’s programme."

"Do we have millions of visitors? That was what I wanted; even the parks must generate revenue. I would never allow holiday homes to be built, but I insist that they turn a profit. I don’t like nature turned into a museum; the park is made for people. And if certain environmentalists aren’t happy, I’ll sleep just the same."

"Berlusconi’s leadership is not determined by the party constitution but by the voters, and anyone who doesn’t accept it is anti-democratic. No one has won the votes that Berlusconi has secured: An was a party with 14% support. The PDL is approaching 40%."

"(About the 150 km/h speed limit on motorways) It is not a government proposal. We supported it because, under certain safety conditions, it seems reasonable to us. But no one will put up a fight."

"(About tolls on previously free motorways) It is a measure that must be viewed within the context of the savings to be made in government spending. We pay Anas a sum for the maintenance and safety of the road network. Thanks to the increase in fees and tolls, which goes into Anas’s coffers, the state is reducing funding for maintenance. Do not ask me for the exact figure of these savings; it depends on how many cars and lorries will pass on those motorways or enter via those toll booths."

"Interviewer: Help us then to recall this assessment of P2, as it emerged from the work of the Anselmi Commission. Matteoli: Essentially, what can be said of that work is that of the names that emerged during the investigation – around a thousand – the vast majority were found to have no involvement whatsoever in subversive activities or corruption for political ends. About fifty remained, those we might call "freelancers", including several members of the Italian army, but the presence of the P2 Masonic lodge itself was very much in the minority. [...] To think today that the Italian state was afraid of someone like him (Licio Gelli) is almost laughable. As I said, he was a strange character, a curious figure who, whilst acting as a partisan, was against the partisans."

"Interviewer: Is Forza Italia no longer able to connect with its supporters? Matteoli: People didn’t make a different choice; they simply didn’t turn out to vote. Yes, we haven’t been able to connect with our supporters as we once did. Because there are MPs who just sit in Parliament, who have lost touch with the people, lulled into complacency by our leader’s ability to appear on TV: we must get back to doing politics, to engaging with the grassroots. FI must return to being the party of moderates that allies itself with the right and wins elections, which is what President Berlusconi has always wanted."

"[Anche se, stando all'articolo 70 della riforma, manterrà comunque una funzione legislativa paritaria in alcune materie di peculiare importanza (riforme e leggi costituzionali)] Oltre al superamento del bicameralismo paritario ed alla riduzione del numero dei parlamentari, gli altri tasselli basilari della Riforma concernono la revisione del Titolo V della parte seconda della Costituzione. Altresì importanti appaiono le modifiche al meccanismo d'elezione del Capo dello Stato. E quelle dei giudici della Corte Costituzionale. Poi si abbasserà il quorum per la validità dei Referendum abrogativi. Ma, purtroppo, le firme necessarie per proporre un disegno di legge ad iniziativa popolare saliranno dalle attuali 50mila, alle future 150mila. Anche se poi il Parlamento avrà l'obbligo di discutere e deliberare entro termini ben precisi"

"Interviewer: What did the MSI represent in the democratic history of this country? Matteoli: A testament to the preservation of indispensable values such as the family, a sense of nationhood, a Europe of nations, and the defence of small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the defence of the tradition that has led us to play a leading role on the world stage."

"Interviewer: Who were the most brilliant and influential figures in the history of the MSI? Matteoli: De Marsanich, Anfuso for foreign policy, Romualdi who was the first to speak of taking sides, Almirante for his courage and his charisma."

"Interviewer: Constitutional referendum: yes or no, and why? Matteoli: I would like, for example, voters to know before casting their vote in the referendum that the new Senate would have a variable composition, as mayors and regional councillors would remain in office only for the duration of their term, creating a situation of absolute uncertainty that would affect the passing of laws."

"Interviewer: The reform envisages moving beyond the perfect bicameral system that has been discussed for 30 years: right or wrong, and if so, for or against? Matteoli: The new Senate may, if it wishes, debate all proposals submitted for consideration by the Chamber of Deputies, with the potential to create, if not a complete blockage of legislative activity, delays worse than those of the current perfect bicameral system. I would also point out that the Senate will have to continue, as it does now, to approve laws in various sectors and constitutional laws. So talking about moving beyond perfect bicameralism is pure propaganda. [...] the risk that such demands in this forum will clash with the interests of other regions is equally clear. Reaching a consensus would become impossible."

"Interviewer: With the new Senate, seats and political costs are being cut: right or wrong, and if so, for or against? Matteoli: The savings would be truly insignificant, given that the apparatus would remain intact. This aspect of costs belongs more to Renzi’s propaganda than to reality."

"Interviewer: You'll have to get used to the idea if the Carroccio gets more votes than Forza Italia. Matteoli: In 2001, Casini and Fini challenged Berlusconi with these words: "The leader will be whoever gets the most votes". The voters rewarded our leader."

"Interviewer: Salvini warns you: either you agree with his proposals or you’re in for a rough ride. Matteoli: The problem isn’t his proposals, partly because some of them are reasonable. What’s unacceptable is the way he issues his diktat: we’ve never done that. Even when FI was at its strongest, we were always conciliatory. Berlusconi always reasoned, he tried to reach agreements."

"Interviewer: II Mattinale, the house organ of Brunetta, claims that Salvini wants to lead the centre-right into a mad dash with the fascists. Matteoli: It is foolish to still think of dividing politics between fascists and communists. I never felt like a fascist, not even when I was in the MSI. It is absurd to talk of fascism today, just as it is to say that Renzi wants to establish a dictatorship."