This year, as in the past, the resumption of government activity after the summer break is marked by an informal summit in Puglia with Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini. The meeting took place at the Masseria Beneficio di Ceglie Messapica, chosen by the Prime Minister for some days of work after returning to full-time duties. Salvini arrived at the Masseria Beneficio in the early afternoon and left around 6 pm after a meeting with Meloni and a phone call to Antonio Tajani, the leader of Forza Italia. They will meet in person on August 30 to discuss urgent issues as they prepare to resume government activities.
One of the key issues they will address is the Budget, which will involve decisions on investments from Salvini’s Ministry of Infrastructure. They also need to decide on the European commissioner to propose to Ursula von der Leyen. Various names have been discussed, including Raffaele Fitto and Giancarlo Giorgetti, but the involvement of Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia is crucial for the negotiations. Von der Leyen’s opposition to Italy does not work in the country’s favor, making Tajani’s role essential in securing a favorable outcome for Italy in European affairs.
The agenda also includes more political issues, such as Forza Italia’s stance on Ius Scholae and citizenship law. The debate within the majority coalition also touches on specific legal topics, including a potential revision of pretrial detention rules suggested by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio. The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, also attended the meeting, adding his perspective on these matters during the discussions.
Another concerning issue for the coalition is Autonomy, a law strongly supported by the League and Minister Calderoli. The regions, along with the labor union CGIL, and Campo Largo are working on a referendum against the law, with resistance coming even from center-right governed regions in the South. A similar backlash could occur with a Constitutional reform law related to the direct election of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is willing to face a confirmatory referendum on this issue, drawing comparisons to Matteo Renzi’s strategies and raising concerns about a similar outcome within the center-right.
Overall, the resumption of government activities is marked by tense discussions between the coalition partners, particularly on key issues such as the Budget, European negotiations, and internal disagreements on legal and political matters. The role of Antonio Tajani in negotiating with Ursula von der Leyen is crucial for Italy’s interests in the European arena, while the coalition faces challenges on issues like Autonomy and Constitutional reforms. The upcoming meeting on August 30 will be crucial in setting the tone for the government’s direction and handling of pressing issues in the coming months.
