New Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday firmly anchored Italy in the heart of the EU and NATO while denying any “proximity” with fascism, a month to the day after the historic victory of her extreme party. right Fratelli d’Italia in the elections and the concern it has caused.
Italy is “fully part of Europe and the Western world”, she forcefully affirmed on Tuesday during her general policy speech to the deputies.
“I have never had any sympathy or closeness to anti-democratic regimes. For no regime, including fascism ”, also wanted to underline the one who was in her youth an admirer of Mussolini.
The first female head of government in the country’s history also promised that Italy would remain “a reliable NATO partner in support of Ukraine, which opposes Russia’s aggression”.
These statements are clearly aimed at reassuring Brussels and Rome’s partners, while Ms Meloni has pro-Russian partners in her coalition, including League leader Matteo Salvini and Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi, a personal friend of Vladimir Putin.
“Caving in to Putin’s energy blackmail wouldn’t solve the problem, it would make it worse, paving the way for further claims and blackmail and future energy (price) increases even bigger than we’ve seen. the past few months,” she said.
As far as the European Union is concerned, she explained that the Italian approach was not to “stifle and sabotage European integration” but to make the Community machine work better.
“Italy will respect the rules” European, also assured Ms. Meloni, even if Rome also wants “to help change those that do not work”. The EU is “a common house to face the challenges that member states can hardly face alone”, she added, judging that the EU has not done enough in this area in the past.
The speech by Ms. Meloni, who took office on Sunday, will be followed by a vote of confidence on Tuesday evening in the Chamber of Deputies and Wednesday in the Senate.
The successor to Mario Draghi, to whom she also paid tribute, is sure to win confidence since her coalition has an absolute majority in both chambers.
“Household support”
While inflation is raging, she has undertaken as a “priority” to “strengthen support measures for households and businesses, both for energy bills and for fuel”. “A financial commitment that will drain a large part of the available resources,” she acknowledged.
Inflation increased by 8.9% year on year in September and Italy was particularly affected by the energy crisis due to its dependence on Russian gas imports.
Paradoxically, while his party had camped in frontal opposition to the government of Mario Draghi, his program is in line with that of the former head of the European Central Bank (ECB), at least in the economic field.
It has in fact entrusted the crucial portfolio of the Economy to a former Minister of Mr. Draghi, Giancarlo Giorgetti, representative of the moderate wing of the League.
A very self-interested strategy to guarantee the payment of the windfall of nearly 200 billion euros (270 billion Canadian dollars) in grants and loans granted by the European Union as part of its post-pandemic recovery fund.
Essential sums as the debt reaches 150% of GDP, the highest ratio in the euro zone after Greece, and Italy is expected to enter recession in 2023.
These funds depend on a series of reforms, ranging from justice to the digitization of public administration, which must be implemented by 2026.
“We will best spend (these funds) by negotiating with the European Commission the necessary adjustments […] especially in light of rising commodity prices and the energy crisis,” she said, adding that “these topics are dealt with with a pragmatic approach, not an ideological one.”
On illegal immigration, the battle horse of the far right, she affirmed her government’s desire to “stop illegal departures (from Africa, editor’s note) and put an end to human trafficking” in Mediterranean.