“Foreign policy is not Temptation Island,” was the phrase Giorgia Meloni chose to revive, a line that had circulated on social media during the clash with Trump, to underscore two messages.
First, according to her, that clash has not weakened her at all; on the contrary, Meloni said she had noticed and emphasized the enthusiasm it had generated. Second, beyond the memes on social media, the prime minister reaffirmed her friendship with the United States. She even made public what she had said two days earlier during the Council of Ministers: the government will take part in the traditional reception at Villa Taverna.
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“Tajani did the right thing by canceling his mission to Washington to send a signal, but once the message has been delivered, there is no need to go any further,” she said.
On the stage of the Roman Aquarium, at an event organized by Il giorno della Verità, Meloni appeared dressed in a green suit and avoided giving in to reporters. “You are trying to steal the show from the editor, aren’t you?” she said, before answering for about half an hour the questions dominating political debate: from the upcoming summits to the electoral law, from sharp responses to her political rivals — especially Matteo Renzi, whom she mentioned at least three times — to a personal decision she recently made.
“I quit smoking on May 1. Was that already a difficult period? It’s not as if I’ve had a calm period since the start of the legislature. When you’re going through a hard time, you can get all the bad things you need to do out of the way. You get rid of them and move on. Smoking was a bad weakness of mine,” the prime minister said.
However, the blows coming from the American president remain fresh.
“I was truly shocked. I have read various theories, but I cannot say whether they are true. I do not intend to continue fueling this debate. Our bilateral work with the United States must return to normal. A strong relationship between the United States and Europe is important and I will not change my mind. We will do our part to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Meloni said.
As for the European front, after speaking about creating a “Georgia majority” over the migration measures the EU would approve from Rome, Meloni also mentioned the bilateral meeting between France and Italy, scheduled for Thursday in Antibes.
She also revealed another issue she intends to address with Macron.
“The Lebanese president has courageously expressed his willingness to negotiate directly with Israel. Italy can play an important role. I intend to discuss this with Macron on Thursday; in that area, Italy and France can work together.” Among the main topics in the dossier are cross-border cooperation, defense, space, energy and transport, Meloni said.
At the same time, in Rome, the new electoral law will be presented in the chamber on Friday.
“A reform that gives stability to those who receive the most votes should be good for the left, which after the referendum told us it had already won by a large margin,” Meloni said sarcastically.
“I can understand why they do not want the prime minister’s endorsement. They do not know whom to put there. But as for governing… Perhaps they are aiming for a draw in order to govern despite having lost? That would be dramatic,” she added.
In the end, the prime minister reiterated her intention to carry the mandate “through to the end of the legislature,” including completing the “nuclear project,” which according to her “will allow us to be independent and competitive.”
She also praised her government’s results on employment, taxes and exports.
