The Italian government faced a significant setback in the Senate’s Budget Committee on Tuesday, when an amendment to extend the reduced RAI license fee from €90 to €70 for 2025 was rejected. The proposal, championed by the Lega, was voted down with 12 votes against and 10 in favor, as Forza Italia sided with the opposition. This clash highlights the deepening fractures within the ruling coalition, particularly between Matteo Salvini’s Lega and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed the incident as mere “skirmishes,” yet the defeat underscores growing discord as the government navigates the critical approval process for its 2025 budget plan.
The debate over the RAI fee reduction reflects broader strategic conflicts within the coalition. While the Lega has long championed a reduction in the state broadcaster’s funding, Forza Italia, with ties to Mediaset (owned by the Berlusconi family), opposes changes that could boost RAI’s advertising revenue at the expense of private networks. The situation escalated further when the Lega retaliated against Forza Italia by abstaining from a separate amendment supporting healthcare funding in Calabria, exposing tit-for-tat politics within the government.
Tensions between Salvini and Tajani have been simmering, exacerbated by recent electoral losses for the Lega and divergent views on key issues such as differentiated autonomy and fiscal policies. Despite attempts by Meloni to mediate, including a private meeting at her residence, no consensus was reached, leaving the coalition visibly fractured. With the budget deliberations ongoing and further challenges looming, these divisions could undermine the government’s stability in the coming months.
