"Italy is in advanced discussions with Elon Musk's Space X for a 5-year contract to provide the government with secure telecommunications services, via the Starlink system, in a deal worth 1.5 billion euros." The indiscretion reported by Bloomberg in conjunction with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence has sparked a bitter political controversy .
The opposition has in fact targeted the alleged decision by the Government to start negotiations with the magnate's giant quietly and without consulting Parliament.
After the initial rumblings, Palazzo Chigi denied that agreements had already been signed («only discussions»), while Musk confirmed on X: «Ready to provide Italy with the most secure and advanced connectivity!». And the centre-left attacked : «Don't think you can get away with a few lines entrusted to press agencies and friendly newspapers. Giorgia Meloni and her government should come immediately to report to Parliament on the negotiations with Musk . If 1.5 billion of Italian money to bring the American billionaire's satellites to our country is the price we have to pay for his friendship, we won't accept it, Italy won't sell out », commented PD secretary Elly Schlein.
On the same wavelength is the leader of the M5S Giuseppe Conte: «Are the patriots in the Government putting our national security in the hands of Musk for the modest sum of 1.5 billion public funds? We ask President Meloni and the entire Government for immediate transparency in front of Parliament on the insistent press leaks of these hours. These are issues of the utmost importance: protection of our companies, protection of personal data, privacy, personal identity, cybersecurity. And many other issues that directly involve the quality of our democratic processes. Can all this – concludes Conte – be decided on the basis of personal relationships between our Prime Minister and one of the aspiring masters of the world?».
(Online Union)
