Press conference at the end of the year for Giorgia Meloni, who took stock of her executive's first months of activity in front of journalists from the major newspapers.
THE MANEUVER – The debut, of course, dedicated to the maneuver, approved in the Senate precisely in conjunction with the conference. "We approved a budget law that was not easy - the premier said, underlining the 'confidence' placed in her allies - because we could say "we have just arrived, let's take what is already there". Instead we have approved a political manoeuvre, where most of the resources, for about 20 billion euros, are destined to the issue of expensive bills and energy, but also to young people, new jobs and businesses".
COVID ALARM – The Prime Minister also spoke about the new Covid alarm. «We immediately moved to have anyone arriving from China swabbed and to understand if it is something we have already seen, therefore covered by vaccines, etc., or not. At the moment, the variants identified are Omicron of an already known type, therefore the situation in Italy is under control".
As for any new restrictions, vaccination obligations or even lockdowns, Meloni explained: «I think checks, swabs and masks are useful. The model of deprivation of liberty adopted in the past has not been effective and what happened in China proves it". "In short, we need to work on citizens' responsibility", added the prime minister, hoping for real "EU coordination" to manage controls and new emergencies. Meloni also launched a "decisive invitation" for vaccinations for the elderly and frail.
TAXES – On the tax front, Meloni explained that one of the government's objectives is to cut the cost of labor and the tax wedge by 5 points. The premier assured that there will be no tax increases for the house and recalled that "the reform of the Procurement Code is fundamental in this sense to ensure that resources can actually be spent".
On the accusation of having cleared new amnesties, Meloni retorted: «There are no amnesties in Maneuver: we have made a rule that asks everyone to pay the amount due, with a surcharge, allowing for installments. The only files removed - he added - are those more than 7 years old and less than 1000 euros simply because their destruction is more convenient for the State. We want to imagine a new type of dialogue with taxpayers but without absolutely favoring tax evasion".
QATARGATE – On the Qatargate scandal, «one thing – Meloni said – made me very nervous many international colleagues define these facts with the term “Italian job”, as if it were a stain on our nation. The story does not concern only Italians, also Belgians, Greeks and exponents of other nations. If anything, it is a party theme, a social job. If it had concerned conservatives it would have been a conservative job. It concerns a political family but not Italy. The pride and honor of the nation I represent must be defended from attack. Responsibilities are transversal not between parties but between nations".
NATO - "I confirm Italy's will on the commitments made", on Italy's contribution to NATO for military spending, Meloni also said speaking of foreign policy, adding, with regard to the appropriations, "how much we talk depends on the conditions they surround us so you can't give hours, numbers and times».
IRAN - And then the violence in Iran: "What is happening in Iran is unacceptable to us and we do not intend to tolerate it any longer, we have always had a dialogue approach but, if these repressions in Iran do not cease and there is no turning back, the Italy's attitude will have to change, with which measure it will have to be the subject of an interlocution at an international level".
UKRAINE - On the conflict in Ukraine, Meloni explained: «The choices of the Russian government must not fall on its people and its citizens, I want to distinguish the two things but those choices exist, they are in violation of international law which, if accepted, would bring about the collapse the construction of international law. I fear that the principle of who with the use of force can invade the neighbor is not convenient for everyone. For us it is unacceptable: we may lack Russian tourism, tourists in Russia, but there are things that cannot be bent to our wishes. I hope Russia stops this unacceptable war of aggression: until it happens we will not stop".
MIGRANTS - "We have approved a law that concerns the respect of international law by non-governmental organizations," Meloni said about the NGOs involved in rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean. "I have not implemented the naval blockade as many of you have told it in recent years, that is, as an act of war," the premier then explained. «In fact, I don't mean it as sending Navy ships against the countries of North Africa and starting a war. My hypothesis is a European mission, in agreement with the North African authorities, to block departures, form hotspots and redistribute refugees in Europe. That's what I keep working on. Things are done seriously."
ENERGY – Then the energy supply: «We are working to solve the problem of the bottleneck of our gas pipelines in central Italy, which is currently too small. When it is resolved, Italy will have the opportunity to enhance several cities in Southern Italy, also on the issue of gas supply and gas pipelines. They would be more than happy to have development addressing an issue that is strategic for Italy and Europe".
PRESIDENTIALISM – The prime minister also confirmed her intention to carry forward the constitutional reform to arrive at the direct election of the president of the republic. "We need governments that are the result of clear popular indications" and I "would like to leave a legacy - Meloni explained - faster, more stable institutions that are attentive to the needs of citizens".
MSI - On the controversy over the posts celebrating the birth of the Italian Social Movement, Meloni recalled that many representatives of the current government "come from that experience and were democratically elected, so it means that for the majority of Italians that experience was not unpresentable".
(Unioneonline/lf)