Domestic Politics
Atreju: Giuseppe Conte has spoken at Atreju, where he reaffirmed the Five Star Movement’s (M5s) autonomy within the progressive front and clarified that a national alliance with the Democratic Party (Pd) is not guaranteed, but contingent on programmatic content. Disappointed by the absence of a debate with Giorgia Meloni and never mentioning Elly Schlein, Conte emphasised priorities such as public ethics, legality, and social and environmental justice, deferring the choice of the left’s leader to a later stage. Conte defended the M5s’ consistency on Ukraine and security, criticising the centres in Albania and the Mattei Plan, and confirmed the party’s opposition to the separation of magistrates’ careers.
Democratic Party: The Democratic Party’s assembly, scheduled for today in Rome, is expected to confirm Elly Schlein’s leadership and reposition her as the main opponent to Giorgia Meloni. However, it risks turning into another internal conflict: the proposal to vote on a political document initiated by Stefano Bonaccini, who has entered the party’s majority, could provoke a reaction from the reformist minority, ready to openly oppose it. In the background, tensions between factions, distrust towards new balances, and the risk of a divided party persist, precisely as Fratelli d’Italia demonstrates unity.
Foreign Policy
Belarus: Belarus has released 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, as part of an amnesty linked to the lifting of US sanctions on potassium. Arrested in 2021, Bialiatski had been sentenced to 2033 and was welcomed in Vilnius, Lithuania. Some of those released were also transferred to Ukraine, with the involvement of Kiev’s intelligence services. Washington speaks of possible further releases, while the Belarusian opposition reflects on a shift in European strategy, amid sanctions, dependence on Moscow, and new tensions with the EU.
Ukraine: Donald Trump’s special envoy is flying to Berlin to meet Zelensky and the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, marking an acceleration of US efforts to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Washington sees progress in the talks, including Kyiv’s openness to a possible referendum on an agreement involving territorial concessions, and the prospect of a demilitarised zone. The United States is also discussing binding security guarantees for Ukraine, inspired by NATO’s Article 5. Meanwhile, Moscow threatens retaliation against Europe if it uses frozen Russian funds.
Economy and Finance
Budget Law: This evening at 11 PM, the Senate Budget Commission will resume examining the draft budget law, beginning a real race against time to reach the Senate chamber at Palazzo Madama and then the Chamber of Deputies. This is the decisive moment of the final negotiations on the €18.7 billion package, which includes the tax on packages, which will also be introduced by Brussels, and new rules on gold, reformulated to align with EU treaties.
Energy: At Atreju, Minister Adolfo Urso announced the end of the original European Green Deal approach, deemed unsustainable for industry if pursued solely by Europe. The debate, involving political and industrial figures, highlights the shift of the European People’s Party and Ursula von der Leyen towards less stringent environmental goals. Angelo Bonelli criticised Europe’s retreat and called for greater public investment and support for innovation. From the industrial front, there is a call for pragmatism: the transition requires longer timelines, substantial resources, and new technologies. Emanuele Orsini, president of Confindustria, highlighted the need to address system burdens, which amount to €10 billion on electricity bills. For Urso and Fratelli d’Italia, nuclear energy and a review of forced electrification are needed to avoid Europe’s competitive decline.