ROME (ITALPRESS) – “The compactness of the government does not come from the presence of ministers in the House, I have always said that when they are busy with other matters, they do well to do their work. I think this is more important than keeping company with me, I can manage on my own.” Thus the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, during her replies in the House.
A high-tension session after the Council president, Giorgia Meloni, during her replies read passages from the Ventotene Manifesto distancing herself from it and stating “this is not my Europe.” Oppositions rose up and the president, Lorenzo Fontana, suspended the session. After a few minutes, discussion resumed, which included explanations of vote, but the tussle continued and the session was again suspended.
Le parole della Premier
On Trump and international stability: “We support Trump’s efforts, he is a strong leader who can set conditions to ensure a just and lasting peace. I don’t think we will see the scenes of Western weakness that we saw in Afghanistan. You always ask me whether I’m with Europe or with the US. I am always with Italy. I don’t slavishly follow either the EU or the US. I am with Italy, I am with the EU because Italy is in Europe but I am also for the compactness of the West.”
Among the hot topics in the courtroom was the war in Ukraine: “I don’t think I ever used the word victory with respect to the war in Ukraine, I always said we had to ensure the deterrence necessary to achieve peace.” And again, “Yesterday there was a long Trump and Putin phone call, from what we learn among the points discussed was the possibility of a partial ceasefire limited to strategic infrastructure. I think this would be a very first glimmer that goes in the direction of what was agreed upstream between Trump and Zelensky.”
“Extending NATO Article 5 to Ukraine seems to me the simplest, most effective proposal of the others, not least because it would help to call a bluff. If Russia has no plans to invade its neighbors again, it is not clear why it should not accept security guarantees that are defensive. The big issue of peace between Russia and Ukraine is played out on security guarantees,” he added.
So finally the premier on tariffs: “There is no doubt that for us tariffs are a problem, the issue I try to pose and on which I have no certainties is what is the best reaction. We have a trade surplus against the U.S. in goods and they against us for services. I think this is an issue that needs to be considered in order to avoid a trade war. The response to duties on goods as a reflex I’m afraid could create more problems for us.”
– IPA Agency photo –
(ITALPRESS).
