Domestic Politics
Centre-left: The Atreju case is shaking the opposition camp: Giuseppe Conte, described as “a cunning fellow” by Democratic Party figures, has inserted himself into the planned confrontation between Schlein and Meloni, disrupting the format and creating tensions within the centre-left. Salvini proposes a showdown with the former Prime Minister, but this scenario appears unlikely. Irritation is growing within the PD: support for Schlein remains strong—she is still seen as the “natural candidate” of the centre-left compared to Giuseppe Conte—but dissenting factions demanding greater involvement in party decisions are gaining strength.
Security: In an interview with La Stampa, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi focused on the attack on the Turin offices of the newspaper. The minister explained that “36 identified individuals” belong to groups engaged in “senseless hooliganism,” particularly the social centre Askatasuna. Piantedosi rules out political motivations: for him, the event “was purely hooliganistic,” and he reaffirms that the attack is “a very serious and unacceptable act,” though it does not indicate a general security emergency. He identifies Askatasuna as “a hotspot of violence” and calls for “greater consistency” from institutions. Finally, the minister rejects accusations of understaffing in law enforcement: “The story about reductions… is a falsehood.”
Foreign Policy
Ukraine: The resignation of Andrij Yermak, the immensely powerful head of President Zelensky’s presidential office, marks a political earthquake in Kyiv and risks affecting negotiations with the US over an agreement with Russia. Yermak is stepping down following a major corruption scandal that has already engulfed other ministers. He will be replaced by Rustem Umerov, a key figure in talks with Moscow. The investigation involves individuals close to the president, making it difficult for Zelensky to explain how bribes exceeding 100 million euros went unnoticed. Meanwhile, Russian forces are advancing in Donbas, and Kyiv is requesting new military aid.
Venezuela: Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Venezuela, declaring Venezuelan airspace “completely closed.” Despite this, he reportedly recently spoke by phone with Maduro to discuss a possible meeting. Meanwhile, serious allegations are emerging against the Pentagon: according to journalistic reconstructions, verbal orders from Secretary of War Peter Hegseth allegedly led to the deliberate killing of suspected drug traffickers. US attacks on Venezuelan vessels, believed to be involved in drug trafficking, have already caused dozens of deaths, raising questions about their international legality.
Economy and Finance
Mps: The Milan Prosecutor’s Office investigation into MPS’s bid for Mediobanca—alleging market manipulation and obstruction of supervision—is prompting opposition parties to demand clarifications from the Government. Elly Schlein urges Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti to report to Parliament on the alleged opaque role of his ministry; Conte criticises executive interventionism and also highlights the European infringement procedure concerning the UniCredit–Bpm case. The Ministry of Economy rejects all accusations. The investigation suggests a coordinated project led by Caltagirone and Lovaglio to seize control of Mediobanca, and undisclosed agreements in MPS operations to gain significant influence over Assicurazioni Generali.
Airbus: Airbus has ordered the immediate grounding and urgent software update of over 6,000 A320 aircraft due to potential damage to onboard computers caused by solar radiation, which could have compromised flight controls. Airlines reacted swiftly, updating software within short timeframes and avoiding a global shutdown during the peak holiday season. Interventions, carried out in just a few hours between flights, minimised disruptions, but some older aircraft will also require hardware upgrades and will remain grounded until maintenance is completed.