At the final rally of Fratelli di Italia for the upcoming European elections in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered a comprehensive speech emphasizing the importance of the vote. She stressed that the European Union plays a crucial role in shaping daily life in Italy. Meloni expressed her determination for Italy to have a prominent seat at the EU tables, moving away from a subservient position. She highlighted the opportunity presented by the elections on June 8th and 9th to usher in a new era for Italy on the European stage.
Meloni reiterated the need to build a strong center-right presence in Brussels, akin to their success in Rome, to counter the damage caused by left-wing parties across Europe. She emphasized that her party has never governed with the left and has no intention to do so in Italy or at the EU level. Meloni called for a more focused role for the EU, allowing national states to make decisions on matters that do not require centralization. She warned that without such a shift, the EU risks remaining a bureaucratic giant and a political dwarf.
Addressing concerns raised by the left about changes to Italy’s constitution, Meloni defended the reforms as necessary to make the government stronger and the judiciary less susceptible to politicization. She emphasized the importance of implementing changes that improve the application of constitutional principles. Meloni also highlighted the importance of a robust and accountable regional governance structure, free from political interference. She defended legal reforms as essential to address systemic issues that impede effective governance.
In her speech, Meloni criticized the opposition, particularly the Democratic Party, accusing them of spreading false information about her government’s actions. She rebutted claims of censorship and highlighted her administration’s efforts to diversify media coverage and promote pluralism. Meloni encouraged voters to raise the stakes for Italy in Europe, drawing a parallel between their domestic successes and the need to excel on the European stage. She framed the upcoming elections as an opportunity to secure victory akin to winning the Champions League after a domestic league triumph.
Meloni also touched on the sensitive topic of healthcare, promising to introduce measures to monitor waiting lists and expand access to medical services, including appointments over weekends. She highlighted the lack of a national monitoring system for waiting lists as a critical issue hampering the timely delivery of healthcare services. Meloni committed to implementing the law on reproductive rights comprehensively, signalling a commitment to upholding healthcare standards in Italy. Lastly, Meloni challenged the Secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, to clarify her stance on Meloni’s leadership capabilities, calling for transparency and accountability in political discourse.
