State of emergency: extension possible until 30 September

There would not be only immediate measures, such as the possible lockdown over the weekend, on the table of the Draghi government. On April 30, the last extension made by the previous executive of the state of emergency expires and there are strong doubts that, by that date, there is the possibility of managing the pandemic with ordinary administration. Among the hypotheses under consideration there would be extension of the state of emergency until 30 September 2021.

The last extension of the period with the active state of emergency arrived last January, necessary following the declaration of public health emergency of international importance by theWorld Health Organization. The first time was declared on January 31, 2020, when there were still no cases ascertained in Italy.

What does the state of emergency entail? First of all i Dpcm, the decrees of the presidency of the council of ministers. The Dpcm are issued only by the Prime Minister and must not be converted into law by the Parliament as is the case with the decree laws. With these tools, the first local red zones were established and also the national lockdown.

In theory, writes the online newspaper Today, the emergency could only be extended until 31 July 2021, but there are cases of elongations further with the need for Parliament’s approval.

With the state of emergency, the political and administrative instruments that shorten the procedures for approving laws and decrees remain active, always remaining within the limits of the Constitution: applies to the approval of bonuses, to the extension of smart working, to block trips and connections. The bodies created to respond to the Covid-19 emergency remain in office: extraordinary commissioner and technical-scientific committee. The stop to layoffs could also be extended and the advance payment of pensions and the staggering of dates to go to post offices remain active.