The director returns to the subject of immigration with Nessun Dolore, in competition at Venice. But the world around him has changed. Vannacci, remigration, a Europe struggling to find solutions: “In every wave of emigration, there was a certain joy. Today, you know that you’ll either find yourself facing a gun or that you’ll die before you get there.”

The State Department says this is to train consular officers on how to assess applicants: the decision comes five days after a federal judge had rejected a similar measure

There is a twofold error in the migrant issue, and it affects both the right and the left. Europe is needed, but it must not act irresponsibly and must not refuse to show solidarity. Everything else creates fear

The PD MEP has criticised the Danish socialist prime minister, who is forming an alliance with the Italian prime minister: “They’re not proposing anything concrete. We need agreements with countries of origin and integration – not just hubs abroad.”

“Irregular immigration remains a threat: we have secured the country,” says the Forza Italia senator. “Is the general criticising us? Our identity is not for sale. And alliances are forged on the basis of values, not in the run-up to elections: we owe that to the Italian people”

Lowering the retirement age, cutting taxes, tackling the falling birth rate, defending ‘Made in Italy’: why the sovereignist right cannot achieve any of this without the contribution of immigration. And on security too: more reality, less fear

“The problem lies with the countries of origin; the centres would fill up straight away,” says the former police chief. “Human trafficking must be combated with the utmost commitment, but there is no invasion. It’s Vannacci knocking on the door.”