The defense, full of Elon Muskone of the most popular topics in the two and a half hour press conference. Because, if anything, it has been the one who has been “interfering” over the years George Soros. And the hope of reaching the end of the legislature not only with the same government, because a reshuffle “is not on the agenda”, but also with the reform of the premiership at the finish line. “Then I don’t know if I’ll run again.”
Giorgia Meloni presents herself in front of the 40 journalists selected for the traditional appointment with the press, now positioned at the beginning rather than the end of the year, and states not only that she does not feel “a limit to the freedom of the press” but also that she has subjected herself to almost “one question a day”.
He puts his hands forward, with respect to requests that still come from the Chamber of the Montecitorio groups to have appointments more often in a more classic formula of the flying press point. And he also specifies that it is a choice not to hold conferences after the most important measures to leave room for ministers.
Apart in the defense of his sister Ariannathe tones are decidedly more restrained than usual in the answers to 40 questions plus one, out of the ordinary, which comes from the back of the room, on Palestine.
It goes on at length at the beginning, from the liberation of Cecilia Sala («the greatest emotion») to the fate of Ukraine now that Donald Trump will be in the White House and, according to the prime minister, will not abandon Kiev.
A reasoning he makes directly, in the evening, with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyvisiting Rome. The tycoon Meloni downplays the first exits, which are worrying European countries quite a bit. On Greenland and Panama “I feel like ruling out the possibility that the United States will attempt annexation”, says the prime minister, explaining that according to her point of view these are “messages to some large global players”, read China, and nothing more . Just as he does not accept the invitation to explain the role of his raid on Mar-a-Lago in bringing the Italian journalist home for 21 days in prison in Iran, even though he explains that, despite the trip he has just made, he would be “pleased to » be the 20th in Washington for Trump’s inauguration, although it will depend “on the agenda”.
He also glosses over the 5% requested by the president-elect from the European allies for defence, pointing out however that the time has come for Europe to move to equip itself with “adequate tools”.
And Europe, the prime minister also argues with regard to SpaceX satellites, has lagged behind in equipping itself with a public system of secure communications. Which is why today there are no other advanced technologies like those developed by Musk’s companies to equip with. But there are no signed agreements. AND in any case, the owner of Meloni pointed out, receiving applause via social media from Musk himself for his words on Soros, cited among the cases of “wealthy people” who “use resources to finance parties and associations halfway around the world to influence policies”. We cannot have, a concept he often repeats, “double standards”: for foreign investments “I always look at the national interest, I don’t do favors for friends” but “I cannot accept that a scarlet letter is stuck on those who have good relations with me.” So far, however, Starlink has presented its project and there is an “investigative phase” which, if successful, would then involve the involvement of many areas”, including Mattarella. Who intervened against the South African tycoon as “head of the CSM”, when Musk had attacked the Italian judges.
The President of the Republic “is not an opposition” took the opportunity to underline the prime minister, specifying that he did not agree with the words of one of his parliamentarians (Ylenja Lucaselli) on the head of state. A giant with which it has signed a truce is Stellantis: “I am satisfied” with the agreement, it says, in one of the few passages on the economy, in addition to the claim of results on work, the promise to intensify policies in favor of businesses and hiring, and also that 2025 (it should have already been 2024) will be the year of a “signal to the middle class” on the tax cut front.
Instead, there is room for internal politics: it excludes reshuffles and a return of Salvini to the Interior Ministry. She is cautious about the fate of Daniela Santanchè (“we are waiting for the judges”) while ensuring that reforms will move forward. Separation of careers but also autonomy (work is underway on a law on Leps) and the premiership, currently stuck in the Chamber. And even if the direct election of the prime minister does not arrive in time for the end of the legislature, it will still be necessary to “question ourselves about the electoral law”.
Finally, he warns his allies about the regional elections – there will be “large and delicate ones this year”, he specifies, also extinguishing hopes of a postponement of the electoral appointments to 2026: it will be necessary to “take FdI into account”, in Veneto and beyond.
Find out more in the digital edition
To read everything, purchase the newspaper or download the digital version.