The Council of Ministers has approved a fuel discount – 17 cents off diesel – but a decree mandates the closure of the blast furnace. The row between FdI and Forza Italia over wiretaps and party preferences continues. The confessions of the FI leader

The Prime Minister calls for “loyalty” and insists on her preferences, against the wishes of the Forza Italia Deputy Prime Minister (who relents) and the Berlusconis. The League warns: “Either we give in, or Meloni will go to the polls on her own. Or with Vannacci.”

Allies who cannot tolerate one another, opposition parties rebelling against what they actually need, and a government refusing to take the path that would steer them clear of the quagmire: voting. The electoral law is a farce. Welcome to the bar-style festival of hypocrisy

The former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies says: “It is right to ask people to vote for candidates, especially for a government that wanted to introduce the office of Prime Minister. But you can’t tell the turkeys to bring Christmas forward. The opposition parties have played dirty.”