FI’s impatience. On nominations, the budget bill (and banks), Tajani feels sidelined by FdI

They declared the matter closed in less than 24 hours. It was better for Letizia Moratti to respond to the rather discourteous remarks directed at her by Ignazio La Russa with a “no comment. The incident is over”, on the sidelines of an anti-drugs event in the San Patrignano community, which Prime Minister Meloni also attended. In reality, however, that clash served, at least in part, to illustrate a relationship – that between FdI and Forza Italia – which is perhaps not currently at its best. More than the Senate President’s comment, however, it is various other factors that are causing Antonio Tajani some concern. First and foremost is the selection of centre-right mayoral candidates in Italy’s major cities (starting with Milan). He has long since put forward the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Matteo Perego di Cremnago – a friend of Paolo Berlusconi – as his candidate. However, in the circles around Via della Scrofa, Perego is considered ill-suited to an election campaign that will require ‘getting one’s hands dirty’. Partly for this reason, given the mounting tension in the Lombard capital, Meloni is said to have moved closer to the Lega’s position, which is pushing for the candidacy of MEP Silvia Sardone. So much so that, together with Salvini, she has taken to hosing down walls defaced by protesters, removing slogans directed against the police. These are election campaign tactics which, however, the majority believes, could find fertile ground should the protests continue with this intensity in the coming months.

But what is also causing concern amongst Forza Italia’s leadership is the resistance the party is currently facing in pushing its proposals through the Budget Bill. FI is pushing hard for a cut in personal income tax (Irpef) to 33 per cent; however, this may only be partial (up to an income of 55,000 euros), with an increase in the threshold to 60,000 euros – which, as Tajani told his colleagues at a meeting, might only come into effect from next year. Similarly, the measures regarding the ‘no tax area’ requested for the under-35s (and championed above all by Occhiuto) could ultimately be limited. Tajani and his Forza Italia colleagues were also known to oppose the 5 billion contribution demanded from banks and insurance companies. The Deputy Prime Minister then sought to involve Cassa Depositi e Prestiti as well, arguing that ‘it won’t just be banks and insurance companies paying’. However, Meloni did not take kindly to this rush ahead at all, and the proposal was immediately sent back to the sender. He thought his concerns stemmed from internal opponents (as recently as yesterday, Minister Zangrillo called for a ‘think tank to build the new Forza Italia’), but perhaps Tajani now needs to be more wary of FdI than of the ‘defectors’.