Domestic Politics
Atreju: The closing of Atreju with Giorgia Meloni took on the tone of an electoral rally, marked by a large crowd and strong symbolic significance. The Prime Minister reiterated the link between her government mandate and the 2022 vote, claimed unity within the centre-right coalition, and harshly attacked the opposition, particularly Elly Schlein. In her speech, she addressed institutional reforms, justice, trade unions, foreign policy, migration, and education, defending the government’s choices. The event concluded as a political and participatory success, with 105,000 attendees.
Democratic Party: At the Democratic Party’s Rome Assembly, the majority supporting Elly Schlein was strengthened, gaining the backing of the faction close to Stefano Bonaccini. The secretary’s report was approved in the assembly with 225 votes in favour and 36 abstentions. The ultra-reformists chose to abstain, demanding greater internal debate. Schlein responded by describing a more united and growing party, where pluralism remains intact. However, unresolved issues regarding alliances and foreign policy were postponed to avoid divisions. The minority demands clarity, while the leadership aims to overcome factionalism and focus on electoral objectives.
Foreign Policy
Australia: One of Australia’s most famous beaches, Bondi Beach in Sydney, became the scene of the country’s deadliest shooting in the past thirty years. Two armed men, father and son, opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, killing sixteen people—including a 12-year-old girl and a rabbi—and injuring more than thirty. One attacker was killed and the other arrested; rudimentary explosives were found in their vehicle. The government described the attack as an act of antisemitism and terrorism, highlighting the rise in anti-Jewish hate incidents in Australia, exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza. Investigations are underway into possible links between the attackers and Islamic fundamentalist circles.
Ukraine: Progress is being made in talks between the United States and Ukraine toward resolving the war. Yesterday in Berlin, the first meeting between Zelensky and Trump’s envoy, Witkoff, lasted over five hours, discussing a 20-point peace plan, economic issues, and territories such as Donbas. Kyiv aims for a ceasefire and a frozen front as a basis for initiating negotiations with Moscow. Zelensky seeks U.S. support for a lasting truce and says he is willing to drop Ukraine’s NATO membership request.
Economy and Finance
Budget Law: Examination of the Budget Bill is slowing due to the high number of amendments—over 400—still under review: the Senate Budget Committee has postponed its work and launched an indefinite analysis. Some measures have been defined, such as extending super-depreciation for businesses and allocating funds for Rome as the capital and for regions with special statutes; others have been scaled back or excluded due to lack of funding. The tax on packages from outside the EU is confirmed, while the freeze on payments to professionals with tax irregularities remains uncertain. The text is expected to reach the floor before year-end, possibly requiring a vote of confidence. Debate also continues over the 500-euro stamp duty on payments between 5,000 and 10,000 euros: Lega opposes it, while Fratelli d’Italia supports it.
Publishing: Fifteen days before the Budget Law’s closure, the majority has returned to intervene on the Pluralism Fund. The Ministry of Economy and Finance’s plan—which proposed cuts to RAI and local TV and radio stations—has been shelved due to opposition from Fratelli d’Italia and Lega, but the issue of funding remains. The cuts were cancelled via a sub-amendment, but resources might be recovered by penalising print media, which has so far been the fund’s primary beneficiary. This decision fuels political tensions and highlights contradictions in defending media pluralism and democratic safeguards at the local level.