The government majority remains united, but splits on the resolutions ahead of the European Council and at the last minute presents one to ask for “an immediate truce on attacks on energy infrastructure between Russia and Ukraine”. The move surprises almost everyone in the Senate, comes after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s communications on the Council of 15 October in Brussels and causes a double reading. For some, it is a trap to try to ferret out someone in the opposition, tempted by the document’s soft commitment. For others, the objective is Roberto Vannacci’s deputies to highlight their position on Kiev, even suspecting that the operation was directed directly from the upper floors of Palazzo Chigi. But the opposition is not on board and despite having each presented their own motion, they denounce the “forcedness and arrogance” of the blitz, try to stop it and in the end do not take part in the vote. The script is partly repeated in the Chamber: the left remains compact and does not take sides, Futuro Nazionale votes yes to the truce and no to the first document from the centre-right. Both texts were nevertheless approved.
The applause of the PD reformists
The double resolution – an unpublished one, but admitted by the regulation – is contested by the centre-left and animates the discussion of a long day in which there is also the applause that Giorgia Meloni gets from the reformist PD (Filippo Sensi, Pier Ferdinando Casini, Sandra Zampa, Walter Verini) when she reiterates her support for Kiev and the pressure on Moscow. An applause claimed “with conviction” by Casini, warning that “politics should be united on this” while Sensi appreciates the clarity but fears that behind “the poetry” there is “no prose”, given that “we are still waiting for the weapons decree”, he observes.
The «mystery of the two resolutions» at Palazzo Madama
The twist arrives at Palazzo Madama mid-morning when Minister Foti, in reporting the government’s opinions on the resolutions to the chamber, reveals the existence of a second majority text. The entire coalition has signed it in its name, with the first signatory being Forzista Maurizio Gasparri who leads the Foreign and Defense Commission. And he explains the rationale as follows: «It concerns the government’s commitment to a truce from the bombing of energy infrastructures, which risks causing further suffering, especially for the Ukrainian people. It is a text that perfectly completes the first majority motion.” The broad camp, however, senses a trap and the Dem group leader, Francesco Boccia, asks to absorb it in the first motion by appealing to the president of the Senate. La Russa responds with article 105 of the rules which allows “each senator” to propose a resolution. The M5s objects that in this way there would be a shower of motions every time, but La Russa is categorical and blurts out: “If there is a difficulty in voting for it, this does not depend on the regulation.”
The clash with the Vannaccians
On the “mystery of the two resolutions” (copyright by Sensi) the opposition denounces the “contradictions of the right on Ukraine” and many fear that behind it there was pressure from the League to highlight the no to the raids which penalize the infrastructures of both Moscow and Kiev. The Northern League denies it. In Montecitorio, where there are 9 FnV deputies, the idea of a provocation against the futurists takes hold. Moreover, the direct clash with the prime minister is evident. Meloni accuses them of “transformism”, given that the government confirms the aid to Zelensky’s people which was in the center-right program and then rages about the possible importation of Russian gas which would not lower the price: “So what interests are you defending? If not the Italian ones, don’t lecture me.”