“No pasaran!”. Awkward moments for Forza Italia with its allies, from the draft bill on minors to wiretaps

“The bill on criminal responsibility for minors? ‘We’ve heard about it, but we weren’t consulted beforehand.’ This is more or less the gist of the comments circulating amongst Forza Italia MPs regarding the bill presented by the government on Thursday – the so-called ‘anti-Maranza’ legislation which, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s intentions, aims to ‘punish young people who think they can do as they please. Those who do wrong must pay’. In fact, a bill—of which the government is the lead sponsor—has been before the Chamber of Deputies for some time, seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility for minors to 13. But the timing certainly does not appear to have been agreed with Forza Italia, at a time when relations between the allies are already particularly strained. With growing pressure from the ‘Vannacci factor’ on Fratelli d’Italia and the League, which risks crushing Tajani’s party. And, as is whispered amongst Forza Italia members, perhaps greater account should have been taken of the constitutionality concerns, by incorporating some of the considerations put forward by the party’s legal experts. “It is a measure that tackles the issue of rampant youth crime, in the face of which we cannot remain inactive,” says Enrico Costa, Forza Italia’s group leader in the Chamber of Deputies. “The government has acted correctly by introducing a bill that will allow ample space in Parliament, through hearings and debate, to examine the technical and legal aspects in depth, whilst ensuring, in practical terms, a thorough assessment of the individual circumstances of minors.” In short, a substantive assessment is deferred to the debate in the Chamber. Although, as mentioned, there is some discontent simmering within the parliamentary group.

These are, if you like, minor, marginal concerns compared to the far more worrying issues that have emerged during the scrutiny of the Justice and Immigration Decree, currently under review by the Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee. Here, Fratelli d’Italia has proposed an amendment to extend the use of wiretaps, at the suggestion of the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor Giovanni Melillo. And here, the Forza Italia members have expressed their clear opposition. Giorgio Mulè, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and a man very close to the Berlusconi family, put it in these terms when speaking to Il Foglio: “That is the real internal front within the majority. We will not back down a single millimetre on wiretapping. Let me make this absolutely clear: no pasaran!” These statements are very similar to those made by Stefania Craxi, Forza Italia’s group leader in the Senate, who has recently doubled down on the stance: “Some amendments have been tabled by our allies without consulting us. We remain loyal, but we too demand loyalty. We will not budge a millimetre on our principles, but we are open to finding solutions through dialogue,” she explained to Corriere. She also addressed the other sticking point in the scandal surrounding the relationship between Meloni and Forza Italia members: the Stabilicum. “The electoral law passed by the Chamber of Deputies can be approved as it stands in the Senate, even immediately,” she clarified. “We are waiting to see the details of any amendments proposed by our allies; we will see whether there will be only the mixed system of closed lists and preferences, or something else as well. Every technical detail must be weighed up politically.” Tajani, too, seemed to waver on this point yesterday, explaining that “preferences are not the key to the new electoral law”. In the background, there is still the issue of extending the scope of self-defence, a move sought above all by the League (under pressure from Vannaccio) but which Forza Italia has already rejected outright. “It would disrupt criminal law,” concluded Deputy Minister of Justice Francesco Paolo Sisto.

Tajani will be in Grosseto today for the party conference in Tuscany: the only candidate is the outgoing secretary, Marco Stella. A confirmation without fanfare, as has already been seen in Abruzzo, Sardinia and Veneto. And one which, in some way, serves to cement the national secretary’s power. It is not certain, however, that whilst he is consolidating his position in the regions, the Deputy Prime Minister will manage to keep the parliamentary groups united. Indeed, they are ready to cause the majority more than a few headaches. “No pasaran!”.