Tajani, the ‘dissatisfied one’. He takes the lead on the CISL’s concerns regarding military pensions. Tensions with FdI in Piedmont

It senses discontent and wants to capitalise on it. Or at least, to appear as the party that listens most closely to people’s grievances. Yesterday, Antonio Tajani welcomed Daniela Fumarola, secretary of the CISL trade union – who has become particularly critical of the budget in recent days – to Forza Italia’s headquarters. Her criticism relates both to the cuts to teaching staff and to measures seen as favouring the self-employed at the expense of employees. The meeting between FI’s top leadership (which also included the group leaders in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, Stefania Craxi and Enrico Costa) touched on issues such as the refinancing of the health service and education, as well as pensions. The Forza Italia delegation offered reassurances regarding ‘improvements’ to be brought to the parliamentary debate. Fumarola stated that she had received ‘a willingness to address these issues, whilst acknowledging that resources are limited’. The Deputy Prime Minister replied: ‘We cannot radically overhaul the budget, but some progress on pensions is possible. These are common-sense proposals.’

It should come as no surprise that Forza Italia is voicing the concerns of a moderate trade union such as the CISL. After all, Tajani has long been repeating the mantra of wanting to be the party ‘of the middle class’. Yet in recent days, Forza Italia’s grievances have also focused on another aspect of the budget: “The issue of pensions for the military and law enforcement remains to be resolved,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “There is a package worth over 4 billion, and we will need to identify what can be done. Minister Zangrillo will be holding meetings in the coming days with trade union representatives and local authorities. For Forza Italia, this is a priority, so we will do everything we can during the parliamentary debate. I hope this can be resolved at government level; otherwise, we will table amendments during the budget debate to ensure the issue is resolved.” This is a way of trying to win over the law enforcement community, a voter base already held within the ruling coalition by the League and Brothers of Italy.

This does not directly concern the Budget Bill, but discontent within the centre-right is also spreading to the justice system, given that many within the party have taken issue with the ‘punitive’ stance taken towards Youseff Siher. So much so that, as a symbolic gesture, Costa has tabled a citizens’ initiative bill in the Chamber of Deputies, proposed by the Union of Criminal Chambers, to reinstate the separation of judicial careers, ‘in accordance with the 13 million “yes” votes in the referendum’. Forza Italia members have also returned to pressing the issue of magistrates’ civil liability. However, the Meloni camp has drawn a line under the matter: “Not now”. It is precisely the relationship between Forza Italia and FdI that is under scrutiny at local level. Officially, MP Fabrizio Sala, who has left Tajani’s party, has not yet joined Fratelli d’Italia (in accordance with a non-aggression pact). But it seems clear to most that Via della Scrofa will in all likelihood be his new home. In the north, there are reports of movements in the opposite direction: in Piedmont, the regional councillor for Culture, Marina Chiarelli – who is increasingly at odds with the local leadership of Fratelli d’Italia – is said to be set to join Forza Italia. Although even within the ‘Azzurri’ there is little consensus on the move. In short, Tajani wants to turn even this ‘Winter of Our Discontent’ into a way to relaunch himself. Not just within the party.