Politics
Communications •
Meloni speaks on Ukraine and Russia, but Salvini and several members of the Lega are absent from the Senate
Both deputy prime ministers and several key ministers were absent during the Prime Minister’s address on the European Council. FdI applauded the passages on Kyiv and Moscow, whilst the Carroccio was far less enthusiastic. And whilst the majority tabled a unified resolution, the centre-left was once again divided, with each party presenting its own text.
Today is the day on which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is due to address Parliament ahead of the forthcoming European Council, which is to be held tomorrow and on Friday. The Prime Minister delivered her speech in the Senate this morning; this afternoon she will be in the Chamber of Deputies, where she will not speak again but will merely respond to MPs. Among the government benches, several absences were noted whilst listening to the FdI leader: the two Deputy Prime Ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, were not present. The former is in Brussels at a meeting of the European Patriots. The meeting is scheduled for 6 pm, according to his diary, but the Transport Minister is already in the Belgian capital. The Foreign Minister, on the other hand – who is usually always present on such occasions – is attending a business meeting this morning with President Abinader Roma of the Dominican Republic. However, sources indicate he will be at Montecitorio this afternoon.
The government benches are also missing some of the most ‘high-profile’ ministers. We are talking about Carlo Nordio (Justice), Matteo Piantedosi (Home Affairs), Giancarlo Giorgetti (Economy, Lega representative) and Guido Crosetto (Defence). Present, however, amongst others, filling all the seats, are Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati (Reforms), Marina Calderone (Labour), Adolfo Urso (Business), Orazio Schillaci (Health), Tommaso Foti (European Affairs) and several undersecretaries and deputy ministers.
During her speech, Meloni devoted considerable attention to Ukraine, to Trump’s ‘risky’ decision regarding Russian gas, and to the relationship our country should maintain with Russia. Whilst loud applause rang out from the benches packed with members of Fratelli d’Italia, that from the Lega was more subdued, all the more so because several Lega senators had decided not to attend today (we estimate around a third of them).
Following Meloni’s speech, it is now the senators’ turn. Matteo Renzi does not feature on today’s long list of speakers; he has handed over to Annamaria Furlan. Speaking for the Democratic Party will be Alessandro Alfieri and Graziano Delrio. Representing the Five Star Movement, meanwhile, will be Castellone and Alessandra Maiorino. Following the general debate, the resolutions tabled by the various parties will be put to the vote.
Following yesterday’s agreement on the Public Finance Bill, the centre-left is once again divided today: each party is tabling its own resolution. As MPs explained to Il Foglio, “there were too many issues at stake”. In all likelihood, only the majority’s resolution (tabled jointly by the Lega, Forza Italia and FdI) will be passed.
