(Adnkronos) –
Prime Minister Meloni, your government has reached the halfway point. Does that October 22nd, 2022—the day you were sworn in before the President of the Republic—feel close or far away?
“When I think about the many events we’ve experienced over these two and a half years, the changes around us, and the sheer number of things we’ve done, it feels quite distant. But when I reflect on everything we still aim to accomplish, I think of it as though we’ve only just begun. Even when physical exhaustion takes over, I never feel like I’ve done enough. That said, beyond personal impressions, there’s a concrete fact: the government I lead is already the fifth longest-lasting in the history of the Republic – and we’ll certainly keep rising in that ranking. It’s a stable government, founded upon a cohesive majority, and this stability boosts Italy’s international standing.”
What would you say is the most important thing you’ve done for Italians so far?
“I could name dozens of measures I’m proud of, but the most important thing for me is hearing from so many Italians that they’ve rediscovered a sense of trust and pride. We are a remarkable nation and people – we must constantly remind ourselves of that and become the best ambassadors of who we are, in a world that’s hungry for and fascinated by Italy. I witness this firsthand, every single day, in ways that we here often fail to imagine.”
And what’s something you’re still struggling to achieve?
“I wish we could achieve on the birth rate front the same outstanding results we’ve had in employment and in curbing illegal immigration. Supporting birth rates remains a top priority – we’ve introduced major policies and allocated significant resources – but it’s still not enough. The progress so far is simply insufficient.”
So what’s needed now?
“We need to continue supporting working mothers and further strengthen tools that help balance work and family life. But we also need a broad cultural alliance to overturn the narrative that bringing a child into the world is a heavy burden on one’s career and personal aspirations, especially for women. Then there’s the cost of energy. We’ve done a great deal since taking office, but we still need to find a way to structurally lower energy prices in Italy. It’s essential, especially for the competitiveness of our economic system.”
By the end of the five-year term, what results do you want your government to be remembered for?
“I want to fully deliver the center-right program and be able to go back to voters and say the simplest thing that politicians should be judged on: we promised it, and we did it. That applies to the economy, immigration, security, support for families, institutional reforms, and foreign policy. It also applies to work, because we want to be remembered as the government that increased employment, reduced precarious contracts, and put workplace safety at the center. On this point, I’m especially proud that together with INAIL (Italy’s national institute for insurance against workplace accidents – ed), we’ve secured an additional €650 million on top of the €600 million already allocated this year, bringing the total to over €1.25 billion. On May 8, we’ll meet with labor and business representatives to present the government’s proposals and listen to theirs.”
Will the bridge across the Strait of Messina be built?
“It’s an ambitious goal in our program, and one I fully embrace. We’re the civilization that built monumental structures that astonished the world, we can’t allow ourselves to be intimidated by a bridge, even one of majestic scale. Of course, we’re aware of the complexities involved, but everything is moving in the right direction.”
What’s more likely, the bridge or the premiership reform?
“For me, the premiership reform is the mother of all reforms. Along with justice reform, differentiated regional autonomy, and tax reform, it forms the backbone of the reform agenda that Italians voted for. We will move forward, because we want to strengthen our democracy and protect citizens’ right to choose who governs them. And we will succeed.”
Beyond the political attacks, what has been your greatest personal disappointment in these 900 days of government?
“Look, I grew up in Garbatella, a traditionally left-wing neighborhood in Rome, and I began my political activism in school, in fiery student assemblies. I’m used to political confrontation – even the harshest kind. What’s saddened me most over these years is that, for the sole purpose of attacking me and this government, some unscrupulous individuals had no qualms about dragging my family into it: my sister, the father of my daughter, even my daughter herself. Almost always with no justification, in a banal strategy of character assassination. Another thing that strikes me is how often I’ve been subjected to shameful sexist attacks – amid the silence and indifference of those who constantly preach about women’s rights. I’d like to say I’ve gotten used to this, but I won’t. Because we must never become accustomed to such things. Not for my sake, but because it’s simply not right. It’s not acceptable. We must not resign ourselves to this kind of degradation.”
Why do you think the international narrative about Italy is so different from the one pushed by many Italian media outlets?
“I’m very proud to have turned the narrative around when it comes to Italy abroad. In media all over the world, including traditionally left-leaning ones, Italy is now viewed as a symbol of reliability and is praised for its stability and its results, from the economy to immigration. It’s part of the democratic game that the opposition here at home emphasizes what’s going wrong and ignores successes. I don’t see that as a problem; if anything, it spurs us to keep improving.”
Still, some say Italy has a problem with press freedom.
“Press freedom is far too serious and precious to be trivialized by political propaganda.”
What do you mean?
“Italy has sharp, combative journalists and a multitude of free media outlets that do their job thoroughly – and that luckily don’t hold back in attacking me or this government. Anyone reading the newspapers or turning on the TV knows critical voices are not in short supply – including, and rightly so, on public broadcasting. After all, we’ve always said we wouldn’t replace the left’s entrenched hegemony with the right’s, and we will hold this line. We’re committed to guaranteeing spaces of freedom for everyone, including those who never got to express their qualities or competences because they didn’t carry the right party card or didn’t belong to elite circles. That was when Italy truly had a pluralism problem – but of course, no one could say it aloud.”
Many of the young people voting for the first time in the upcoming elections get their information exclusively from social media. How important are digital platforms in shaping public opinion?
“Hugely important, of course. But it’s essential that the perfectly legitimate fight against disinformation and foreign interference in our democracies doesn’t turn into one-sided indoctrination or censorship of non-aligned views. I very much appreciate the renewed commitment from major platforms to review their algorithms and content moderation processes. Freedom of expression must be safeguarded – especially at a time when artificial intelligence is forcing us to confront new challenges, not just in the job market, but also in information and communication.”
Senate President Ignazio La Russa, commemorating the death of Youth Front activist Sergio Ramelli, spoke of new ‘little fires’ that must be extinguished before they flare up. Do you share that concern?
“Yes. In my own message marking fifty years since the death of Sergio Ramelli, I also warned – especially young people – about those who spread hatred and the false prophets who, then as now, justify violence and domination as tools of political struggle. We’re seeing troubling signs of new forms of hatred and intolerance. Right now, they’re confined to loud minorities, but they should never be underestimated. Recent examples include antisemitic insults directed at Senator Liliana Segre, to whom I renew my solidarity, as well as repeated attacks on law enforcement and on young right-wing activists in schools and universities.”
Gianfranco Fini once said, ‘All democrats are anti-fascists, but not all anti-fascists are democrats.’ Is that truer than ever today?
“Yes, it’s always been that way historically, and it still is today. That’s why I stay away from the instrumental use of the term ‘anti-fascism,’ which unfortunately hasn’t always manifested itself solely in opposition to dictatorship.”
Can you elaborate?
“Today, the real dividing line is between those who defend freedom and democracy everywhere, and those who only do so selectively. The right, for quite some time now, has had no hesitation in condemning all forms of dictatorship and political violence. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the left, which continues to invoke concerning double standards.”
How do you respond to Pier Ferdinando Casini’s appeal, in the wake of Pope Francis’ teaching, that you urgently address the harsh conditions in Italian prisons?
“Pope Francis’s words after his last prison visit – when he said that whenever he sees inmates, he asks himself ‘why them and not me’ – deeply moved me. We must never lose our humanity toward those who’ve made mistakes and are serving their sentences. Prison conditions are certainly a concern, for inmates and for prison officers alike. We inherited a heavy situation, and we’re working to address it through extraordinary measures and a new prison infrastructure plan. I’ve never believed that the way to reduce overcrowding is through amnesties or mass prisoner releases. A just state adjusts capacity to fit needs, not crimes to fit capacity. We need structural measures to expand the available space and improve conditions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. The government’s plan is to increase prison capacity by at least 7,000 units by the end of the legislature, but if resources allow, my goal would be to reach 10,000, which corresponds to the average shortfall based on recent years’ statistics.”
On May 1st, President Mattarella recalled that low wages are a major issue for our country. What can and will the government do to support families who – again quoting the Head of State – “can’t withstand” the rising cost of living?
“I watched President Mattarella’s speech, and I didn’t hear those exact words, though some media outlets reported them. What the President of the Republic rightly pointed out is that Italy stands out for its long-term negative wage trend – even if there has been a recovery since 2024. We still have a long way to go, but I am particularly proud that this government has managed to shift the direction.”
In what way?
“From day one, we’ve worked to support the lowest incomes, especially from work. We did this by stabilizing the cut to the tax wedge, introducing energy bill subsidies, and offering tax breaks to companies that hire women, young people, long-term unemployed or former welfare recipients. Employment data show that since our government took office, we’ve created a million new jobs – mostly permanent contracts – and reached record highs in female employment. We’ve renewed many public sector contracts, including those for teachers and the security and defense sectors, and we’re exerting moral pressure to unblock stalled private sector contracts. We’re also moving forward with a historic law that will introduce worker profit-sharing. So, the course is set, and we will stay on it – but a wage gap built up over decades can’t be closed in just two years. And if those who criticize us today had acted when they were in power, we wouldn’t have inherited such a compromised situation.”
Let’s turn to foreign policy. How do you assess the first 100 days of the new United States President Donald Trump? Did you expect such a shock to international relations?
“The affirmation of the ‘America First’ principle wasn’t just a campaign slogan rewarded by American voters, it was a political program supported for years by key Republican think tanks. So, generally speaking, I wasn’t surprised. Only the naive are surprised when a country defends its national interests in foreign policy. What’s more, this more ‘self-reliant’ stance had already emerged under previous administrations, including Democratic ones. We are determined to assert our own national interests too, within the traditional friendship that binds us to the United States, loyally, but never submissively. One recent sign of the strength of our relationship is President Trump’s announcement that he will reinstate Columbus Day – a celebration so dear to the Italian-American community, and one that in recent years suffered a shameful ideological assault in the name of cancel culture. On behalf of all Italians, I thank the President for that choice.”
You said that it’s too soon for a meeting between Trump and the European Union. You’ve also expressed opposition to retaliatory tariffs. So how should Europe respond?
“Technical discussions are ongoing, and I’m pleased if my meeting with President Trump helped lay the political groundwork for a more substantive dialogue. Italy is working to bring the two sides of the Atlantic closer together, because we believe in the West not just as a geopolitical bloc, but as a shared system of values, international alliances, and trade relations. That’s what I summed up during my White House visit with the motto “Make the West great again.” Our European Union positions must, of course, begin with defending the interests of our citizens. But we must never forget that only by standing together can Europe and America remain strong in an increasingly complex global landscape. The fact that I was criticized –a few weeks apart and by the same people – for being too close to Trump and then for being too distant at Pope Francis’s funeral shows not only a deep confusion, but also that our bond with the United States is indispensable. As we’ve always said.”
Is there room to defend Italy’s specific interests within that framework?
Italy is one of the world’s leading exporting nations, and we are competing neck and neck with other major countries for fourth place globally. I’m proud of these results – achieved, not by chance, under our government, which has been strongly supporting our exports and opening up new markets well before Trump’s return. We believe in global trade that is not only open but also fair, in line with Italy’s national interest. While tariff decisions lie with the European Commission, we are certainly working – with the US and other international partners – to relaunch investments and joint projects where Italian companies can play a prominent role.
How would you describe your relationship with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen?
“Our cooperation is now well-established, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to solving problems, with maximum frankness when needed. I’m very pleased that during the last term – and certainly again during this one – the Commission has taken on board many of Italy’s proposals, from revising the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to migration policy. On the latter subject we now speak a language that is much closer than in the past. When differences arise – as they did recently when I strongly argued that European defense investments shouldn’t focus solely on weaponry but should also address citizens’ security more broadly – we’ve defended our position and obtained good results. That’s the approach I take with all international counterparts. I now believe we need to make further progress in reshaping the Green Deal, so that it no longer acts as a burden on the competitiveness of our businesses. This was a theme raised at the European People’s Party Congress as well, and we must move swiftly.”
And your relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron?
“We represent two great European nations – friendly, neighboring countries with many common interests, but also a healthy rivalry in various sectors. We also belong to political families with different cultural sensitivities. Our relationship is a result of all those nuances, but it’s also shaped by the practical familiarity that comes from working together on many files. As you might have noticed, my approach to international relations is very pragmatic: I focus on concrete outcomes. And in many areas, Italy and France find themselves on the same side.”
Have you had any opportunities to engage with Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz?
“We met before the election that brought him to power, and we’ve been in contact in recent weeks. I extend my warmest wishes to him and his new government. I read some of his remarks at the European People’s Party Congress, particularly on competitiveness and the Green Deal, and I found myself strongly aligned. I’m confident we’ll work very well together.”
Have you managed to build a similarly productive relationship with Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the UK, as you had with Sunak? What unites you, despite your different political views?
“I’ve found him to be a pragmatic leader, unafraid to initiate common work with us. We’re cooperating on defense – because clearly, there can be no robust Euro-Atlantic defense system without the United Kingdom. And we’re also working together on tackling irregular migration. Having been able to set aside our initial political differences. That said, I’ve noticed that more and more left-wing governments are embracing this approach too, gradually moving away from the ideology of uncontrolled immigration.” (by Davide Desario)
