Meloni in the Senate today ahead of the European Council: appeal for unity on Fitto

ROME — Flanked by Matteo Salvini e Antonio Tajaniboth mentioned and thanked after weeks of tantrums over the maneuver, Giorgia Meloni speaks for the first time on the ban on arms exports to Israel requested by Emmanuel Macron. He does so in Parliament, during communications in view of the European Council tomorrow and Friday. Almost obliged, because the opposition hammers away throughout the discussion in the Chamber. Italy, Meloni then says, has already stopped new orders from 7 October 2023, while previous ones are evaluated “on a case-by-case basis”. A position, in his opinion, “more restrictive” than other countries “that ask for a moratorium. And we must first set a good example.” It seems like a dig at the French president, but she is the leader of the Democratic Party, Elly Schleinto bring the Prime Minister back to the real heart of the matter: if France and Spain ask the EU as a whole to stop arms exports, what will Meloni say? “President, you are not speaking as a ministerial official, the point is whether you join the other EU countries who are asking for the embargo”, the Dem stings.

Meloni, by regulation, can no longer reply at that point. The application remains suspended. Shortly before, he had announced a mission on Friday to Lebanon, which perhaps will continue to Jordan, and another mission by Tajani to Israel and Palestine next week. Guido Crosettoabsent, will speak to the Chambers tomorrow, but today he will hold a call with the defense ministers of France, Spain and other countries that contribute to Unifil. In an hour and a half of speeches, including communications and replies, Meloni reiterates in the Chamber that the attitude of the Israeli army against the UN bases was “unjustified”, a “blatant violation” of the United Nations resolution, which was also violated “from Hezbollah” (the League took pains to include this second passage in the majority text) but we must be careful “not to isolate Israel”. The prime minister seems to dissociate herself from Netanyahuwhen he adds that the issue of government must be «distinguished from the issue of Israel’s right to exist». Schlein is not convinced: «Meloni bullies Sea Watch, but doesn’t raise his voice with Netanyahu». As for the accusations of anti-Semitism relaunched on the right, the secretary of the Democratic Party replies, “we have always opposed it, unlike the youth of FdI”.

Meloni snorts, laughs, vents to Tajani. First, in a quote from Draghi and an attack on Vincenzo De Lucahad responded to the criticisms of the 5S: “The day I have the Movement explain to me what I said, I will resign.” Counter-reply of Giuseppe Conte: «I’ll explain to you what he said: that he would have abolished excise duties, but instead he increases them».

In addition to the crisis in the Middle East, yesterday’s session was intended by the Prime Minister to serve to press the Democratic Party to support Raffaele Fitto as EU commissioner, given that half of the PSE would like to snatch the honors of executive vice-president from him in the Ursula bis. But Schlein only says: «No one is questioning the Cohesion portfolio». It does not mention the vice presidency. Meloni herself, in the Chamber, had asked the Dems to «make themselves heard with the socialists: in 2019 we also supported Paolo Gentilonias Silvio Berlusconi did.” Which is a half-truth (or a half-lie): FdI voted in favor of Gentiloni but only in the hearing, then rejecting the commission. «And Meloni – he remembers Matteo Renzi – called on the streets against Gentiloni”.

Schlein doesn’t want to anticipate what the Democratic Party will do: “We will evaluate the hearings.” Also because the PSE is negotiating with “VdL” to remove the vice-presidency from Fitto, seen not as a recognition of Italy, but of Ecr. Among the Dems there are those who hypothesize a loophole, in view of the hearing on November 12: vote yes on the delegations, but asking to eliminate the role of deputy. Also because Conte has already announced the no to the 5S: «Fitto is terrible».