At the 80th anniversary of Il Tempo, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took the opportunity to defend her government’s decisions on issues ranging from the Superbonus to the Italy-Albania migrant agreement. Addressing the economic and immigration policies, Meloni directly responded to criticisms from opposition leaders, particularly focusing on the impact of past government initiatives.
Meloni criticized the controversial Superbonus initiative introduced by the previous administration, stating, “Without the Superbonus, we could have allocated an additional 20,000 euros to each minimum pensioner.” She emphasized that her government’s 2025 budget, valued at 30 billion euros, is overshadowed by the 38 billion euro cost of the Superbonus, which benefited less than 4% of Italian homes, mostly second residences. This, she argued, has severely constrained current economic flexibility.
In her address, Meloni also highlighted the recent backlash over the Italy-Albania migrant protocol, accusing members of the opposition, particularly from the Democratic Party (PD), of attempting to undermine the agreement. She expressed shock at the request from PD MEPs for the European Union to sanction Italy over the deal, which had been ratified by the Italian Parliament. “It’s not normal for Italian representatives to seek punishment for their own country in Europe,” she noted.
On the migrant issue, Meloni remained firm in defending the agreement with Albania, stating that despite obstacles, she is determined to move forward. She dismissed accusations of fiscal irresponsibility, particularly from those who had supported the Superbonus. “Accusations of fiscal damage from those who wanted the Superbonus and rolling desks? Absolutely not,” she remarked, underscoring the importance of pursuing long-term solutions to immigration challenges.
Meloni also took the opportunity to address the controversy surrounding Francesco Spano, the outgoing Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Culture. She suggested that any conflicts of interest stemmed from previous leadership at the MAXXI Museum, criticizing the investigative program Report for not addressing the issue sooner.
Finally, Meloni touched on upcoming regional elections in Liguria and Emilia Romagna. She expressed confidence in her party’s prospects in Liguria and called for cooperation in dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters in Emilia Romagna. “We need to study structural solutions together,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of putting citizens’ needs above political divisions.
