Meloni: "We will govern until the end." She lashed out at the opposition: "They're just throwing mud." And on the attacks on UNIFIL: "Unacceptable."

MIDDLE EAST – Regarding the US-Iran conflict and the ceasefire agreement, the Prime Minister stressed that, having reached "one step away from the point of no return," there is "a faint prospect of peace that must be pursued with determination" and firmly condemned "any violation of the ceasefire." Meloni also rejected accusations of subservience to US President Donald Trump, stating that, faced with the conflict with Iran, "Italy's position is the same as that of other EU countries." " Allies," the Prime Minister continued, "are clearly told when they disagree , as on tariffs, as on the defense of our soldiers in Afghanistan, deemed useless, as on Greenland and Ukraine. Lastly, as in the war in Iran, an operation that Italy did not support and in which it did not participate ." This fact emerged in its concrete form with the Sigonella affair, in which Italy scrupulously adhered to the letter of the treaties and agreements that govern our relations with the US. A circumstance that does justice to the usual cheap propaganda."

RELATIONS WITH THE USA – Regarding the relationship between the United States and Europe and the unity of the West, "I would say," Meloni said, "borrowing a phrase dear to Elly Schlein, that we are stubbornly united. And if she can afford to be so compared to the diverse political forces that make up the broader political spectrum, I can certainly afford to be so compared to Europe and the United States, who have been together for a long, long time." "We are stubbornly Western," the Prime Minister added, "because only if the West is united can it be a force capable of making its mark on the world stage. And because without that unity, we, not others, would be weaker."

UNIFIL – Meloni also spoke about the situation in Lebanon and the warning shots fired at Italian soldiers near the headquarters in Shama, led by the Sassari Brigade, calling the incident "an unacceptable act against our UNIFIL personnel in Lebanon , to whom we reiterate our solidarity and that of the nation."

ATTACKS ON THE OPPOSITION – "The international scenario," Meloni continued, stinging the opposition, "no longer allows anyone to get away with saying it's all Meloni's fault, even the increase in global oil shortages." The attacks were especially directed at Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein, accused of "lying about job insecurity, which is different and verifiable." "For days, the secretary of the main opposition party, Elly Schlein, has been repeating on TV that job insecurity has increased since the center-right took office. But this is, data in hand, a verifiable lie. A lie that the Honorable Schlein repeated in the Chamber after these words of mine, and I hope she failed to update the text of her speech in time. If she did so knowingly, it's serious. Knowing that you're saying something false isn't very respectful of citizens. And when people lie, it's because they're afraid of the truth."

FUEL EXPENSES – Regarding fuel prices, "Italy is ready to implement every possible measure to prevent potential speculative behavior, including, if necessary, further interventions on energy company profits," the president stated, adding that Italy "will continue its full international commitment and with the same seriousness as it has shown so far domestically." But, Meloni continued, "if there is a new escalation" of the conflict in Iran, "we will have to seriously consider the issue of a European response similar in approach and tools to that deployed for the pandemic. In that case, it should not be taboo to consider the possible temporary suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact : not a derogation for individual member states, but a generalized measure."

THE SELFIE CASE – The prime minister also addressed the issue of a selfie of hers with a figure close to the Senese clan, dismissing the doubts raised by some newspapers and echoed by the opposition: "We intend to move forward with the bill proposed by Anti-Mafia Commission President Colosimo to remove parental rights from mafia bosses. This is just to respond once again with a smile and action to the latest shovelful of mud thrown at me by a desperate opposition that is fabricating surreal theories about my alleged ties to organized crime, bringing up a father, deceased for other reasons, whom I haven't seen since I was 11," the prime minister declared. Then, her proposal: "I take the liberty of asking the parliamentary anti-mafia commission to address organized crime 's attempts to infiltrate political parties, including the FdI. While some are using the issue for propaganda purposes, I am interested in building a network of antibodies against an issue that concerns us all."

HOUSING PLAN – Meloni also announced that "in view of the May 1st anniversary, the Council of Ministers will finally approve the measures necessary to implement the vast Housing Plan in Italy that we have been working on for some time. A robust, structural plan, which aims to make available, including social housing and affordable housing, over 100,000 homes over the next ten years."

PREVENTIVE DETENTION – He responded to the controversy regarding preventive detention: "We have responded to those who have accused us of wanting to limit the freedom to demonstrate with effective measures, such as the preventive detention, which have a very clear purpose: to ensure that street demonstrations are conducted peacefully, as required by the Constitution . Without incidents, devastation, vandalized cities, or assaulted police and Carabinieri, simply for the amusement of some rich kid who delights in destroying stations that we are supposed to fix with citizens' tax dollars."

REACTIONS – Meloni's lengthy speech was followed by responses from opposition figures. Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein called Meloni's "a speech of self-persuasion. You're challenging us, but you've already lost that challenge because you defied the Constitution and the sovereign people defeated you at the polls. It's clear you're very eager to return to the opposition; we'll oblige. If you're not too busy with your ministers' scandals," the Democratic Party leader added, "I'll send you a postcard from the real country, the one where real wages have dropped by 9 percentage points in the last four years." "No Italian," Schlein further stated, "can say they're better off than they were four years ago." Regarding Italy's position on the Middle East, the Democratic Party secretary insisted: "Italy repudiates war. Trump said about Iran that an entire civilization would die—the same Trump for whom you proposed the Nobel Peace Prize. But after everything that's happening, you still can't tell Trump and Netanyahu you have to stop."

"You," Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte responded to the prime minister, "are telling a mythical story: the referendum wake-up call hasn't sounded at Palazzo Chigi. You still say 'we'll do it,' but you have a great future behind you. You cited big numbers, but not just small ones: four years, zero reforms . You said I'll put my face forward, but if you don't put in the expertise and capacity, Italy will be left in the lurch." "You've challenged us several times," Conte added, "but know that here we have more shared proposals. The Italians have given you a wake-up call. We are ready for the progressive challenge and we will send you packing," he concluded.

"When voters say no, you don't make videos with birds, you go to the Quirinale and resign," said Matteo Renzi, leader of the Italian Left (IV), in the Senate. "The president," he added, "says she put her face on the line? Yes, that of Delmastro, Santanché, Bartolozzi. You went back to being vigilantes as soon as the exit polls came in... "

(Unioneonline/lf)