Tajani’s concerns, under pressure from ‘Berlusconi supporters’. Meloni on alert

They have preferred to bide their time, rather than take a stand. But on the issue of a pardon for jeweller Mario Roggero, as well as on the proposal to extend the scope of self-defence, a certain sense of disappointment is spreading within Forza Italia. This is particularly true amongst those closest to Marina Berlusconi. They are aware that the party’s historic battles in defence of the rule of law sit ill with the rush to support Vannacci. Yesterday, Antonio Tajani himself spoke out on the matter, opting for a sort of middle ground, whilst nevertheless aligning himself with the calls made by the Lega and FdI to launch a parliamentary petition calling for a pardon. Roggero “was in the wrong, in our view. He committed a crime; he is guilty. He went beyond self-defence, and we have no objections to the judiciary’s ruling. We are not challenging the verdict,” the Deputy Prime Minister told the Corriere. However, “we would be in favour of an act of clemency,” he added. “Because there was a disproportionate reaction – certainly not a rational one – from a person who is, however, not a habitual criminal, but who acted out of anger, fear and desperation.” On the revision of the law on self-defence – extending the safeguards for those defending themselves, as announced in a draft bill tabled by Northern League MP Claudio Borghi and supported by Vannacchio’s supporters – Forza Italia has, however, distanced itself. Tajani himself stated that “we are not calling for the law on self-defence to be amended; it seems adequate to me as it stands”. At the same time, statements appeared in the press from the Deputy Minister for Justice, Francesco Paolo Sisto, and the group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Enrico Costa, who immediately rejected the proposals. In fact, even on this issue, Forza Italia members have sought to find a compromise, with Senate group leader Stefania Craxi and Justice Committee group leader Pierantonio Zanettin announcing their willingness to vote for “an amendment that completely excludes compensation for perpetrators of serious crimes as a consequence of their actions”. On the other hand, as far back as 2019 we had put forward an amendment to this effect during the last reform of the law on self-defence. We would be prepared to vote for this amendment as early as during the examination of the Justice and Immigration Decree currently before the Senate.” However, the League and FdI consider this amendment insufficient. Not least because it is ineffective in countering the campaign launched on this issue by Vannacci (as recently as yesterday, MP Rossano Sasso once again attacked the centre-right, claiming to be “the true right”).

As we reported in Il Foglio, tucked away within the Justice and Immigration Decree – and driven primarily by the ‘non-Tajani’ faction – Forza Italia has threatened not to vote for an amendment tabled by FdI that would seek to reintroduce ‘dragnet’ wiretaps at the request of the national anti-Mafia prosecutor, Giovanni Melillo. This development, too, is causing Meloni concern, as she worries about the cohesion of the “Azzurri” group. The Prime Minister, after all, has feared since last year that control over the majority parliamentary groups might crumble. And following the defeat in the Chamber over the preferential voting system, she no longer trusts mere promises.

On the subject of electoral law, Tajani also made it clear yesterday what the general approach might be: to say no to any kind of coercion. Because “we in FI approved a text – the one ultimately voted on by the Chamber of Deputies – which did not provide for preferential votes. For us, they are not a key issue’. On this point too, the Deputy Prime Minister – who had personally campaigned hard to ensure that preferential votes were passed in the Chamber of Deputies – is acting under mounting pressure from the faction close to Marina B., which has no intention of voting in favour of preferential votes even in the Senate (incidentally: instead of Cannizzaro, the newly elected mayor of Reggio Calabria, the family would like to field Fininvest’s lawyer and party treasurer, Fabio Roscioli, as a candidate in the by-election). This stance is completely at odds with that of FdI, which would like the bill to be debated in the Senate as soon as possible (the process begins today in the Constitutional Affairs Committee). It is therefore understandable why – from the issue of self-defence to the broader justice dossier, via the electoral law – a FI that distances itself from the government is more than just a headache for Meloni.