Minister Foti states: “The mid-term elections won’t change the world; Trump remains Trump. Salvini? Vote for Kyiv.”

Foti and ‘votes’. Tommaso Foti, Minister for European Affairs and FdI’s ‘good teacher’, speaks to Il Foglio. Will the mid-term elections change the world? ‘They won’t change Trump. He’ll remain the same. He’ll be neither more aggressive nor more moderate. I don’t think there’ll be any disruptive effects. A coalition with the Democrats wouldn’t be the first time.” Minister, are you starving teachers and doctors? “When I hear the Left, I’m tempted to quote a film: ‘nothing under the dress’.” Schlein? “Alice in Wonderland.”

He says “that the budget should at least be read, but it seems the left likes to give a distorted interpretation”. Minister Foti, is it “distorted” to say that you are cutting teaching posts and healthcare, and that instead of a torch you have a pair of scissors? “Curricular teaching posts are not being cut”. So what are you doing? “We have 800,000 teachers and 200,000 administrative and support staff. There is a partial failure to replace staff as they leave, but do you know why? Because people aren’t having children in Italy; because the left – and how I’d love to hear this – instead of talking about the falling birth rate, prefers to resort to cheap propaganda. If we were to calculate the average teacher-to-pupil ratio, this government’s ratio would be the most favourable by far.” Why does De Pascale, the governor of your Emilia-Romagna, want to leave the State-Regions Conference? Is he a deserter? “In truth, he also says that the 300-euro bonus for the elderly, over 75 years of age, is shameful, rather than welcoming it. Evidently, for De Pascale’s left, it is important to seek treatment only in public facilities – facilities where, however, the left is increasing the patient contribution. I want to be polite. De Pascale’s words strike me as out of place.”

Youssef has been acquitted and released from prison – is this, for you too, as it is for Meloni, a shameful decision? “I’ll answer you and remind you that a decision by other magistrates – not exactly mere paper-pushers – has been overturned.” What is your response to the word “shameful”? “I’ll do so without any problem. Why is it that the judiciary can criticise the decisions of the legislature, yet politicians cannot do the same with magistrates? I wouldn’t want it to be the case in this country that criticism is only valid if you’re wearing a judge’s robe rather than a politician’s raincoat.” Minister, is changing the law on magistrates’ pay rises an act of retaliation? Are you seeking revenge? “It is legitimate, for the future, to prevent these automatic pay rises from continuing. What would an Italian say, faced with a government that struggles to find 165 million for lorry drivers, yet pays out a billion to the judiciary?” And yet, the government will have to pay; there is a court ruling. Why refuse? “Because when a region objects, it’s seen as commendable, whereas if Meloni refuses to sign a document, it’s deemed subversive? It’s true, the ruling must be respected, but it will be carried out by an ad acta commissioner, not this government.”

Turning to the United States, do you feel more secure with a Trump-Democrat coalition or with Trump acting unchecked? “I wouldn’t want Italy to make the same old mistake. Trump’s powers will remain the same. I don’t think there will be any disruptive effects, whether Trump loses or wins.” Will he attack Iran? “There’s been talk of an attack on Iran for three months now… It won’t depend so much on the scale of the vote, but I’d like to point out that, as we’ve seen in America, whoever laughs first, laughs last.”

Foti, do you smile when you hear Salvini talking about Ukraine? “Support for Ukraine will become increasingly strategic.” Will Salvini bring you down? “A solution will always be found. Supporting Ukraine is tantamount to supporting Italy’s interests. I agree that Europe must, now, soon, immediately, identify a figure who can speak on behalf of the 27 at a peace table.” Dear Foti, does Vannacci still worry you? Has he lost his edge? “I’ve always avoided wasting precious time commenting on the escapades of those who’ve left, who’ve abandoned the centre-right.” Calenda? “You see, this electoral law removes any excuses for those who consider themselves different from the centre-right and the centre-left.” Have you heard Meloni say she won’t go to the Colle? Who is Foti sending there? “The news is that, with this stance, Meloni is announcing she wants to govern for another five years.”

They call her the ‘good teacher of FdI’ – doesn’t she listen to young people? ‘I remember my school, the basement of the Respighi grammar school in Piacenza. The NRRP has changed Italian schools. Criticism is fine, but smashing heads has nothing to do with criticism. I’d like some suggestions.’ What would you suggest to Schlein? “To talk less about Meloni and more about Schlein, about what she wants to do. I’d like a country where there’s less chatter and more reasoned discussion.” Would that be wonderful? “We’ve even got an Alice…”. When is the election? “In 2027.” In May or October? “And isn’t it always 2027?”