Domestic Policy
President of the Republic: At the Conference of Ambassadors at the Farnesina, President Sergio Mattarella condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, describing it as an unacceptable and anachronistic attempt to redefine European borders by force, in violation of the Helsinki principles. He also highlighted the risk of escalation in Gaza and denounced attacks against the European Union and the West aimed at undermining democracy, multilateralism, and shared values. Mattarella reiterated the central role of diplomacy and dialogue in achieving peace and security.
Turin: The Turin Court of Appeal has ordered the cessation of the detention of Imam Mohamed Shahin, who was subject to an expulsion decree signed by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. The decision triggered strong reactions from the centre-right: Prime Minister Meloni and several government figures accused the judiciary of compromising national security, while Salvini linked the case to the referendum on judicial reform. The Court ruled that the imam’s statements regarding October 7 fell within freedom of expression and did not constitute a threat. Piantedosi is considering an appeal to the Court of Cassation.
Foreign Policy
Ukraine: Negotiations on Ukraine are underway in Berlin: Kyiv reportedly accepted non-membership in NATO as a basis for talks with Moscow, but requested legally binding guarantees. The Kremlin stated that Putin is open to a comprehensive peace agreement but opposes temporary truces; the Donbass issue remains unresolved. An evening meeting is expected between Zelensky, European leaders, and envoys of Donald Trump, to which Giorgia Meloni will also participate. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sees the U.S. initiative as an opportunity to restore peace in Europe.
Chile: José Antonio Kast, a centre-right figure, has been elected as Chile’s new president. In his victory speech, he called on his supporters to show respect, silencing them when they booed his runoff opponent, Jeannette Jara of the Communist Party, marking a shift in tone from the election campaign. Outgoing President Gabriel Boric congratulated him. Congratulations also came from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Argentine President Javier Milei—who described it as a step forward for freedom and private property—and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Economy and Finance
Budget Law: Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti announced a €3.5 billion package of measures to support businesses, to be incorporated into the budget bill, covering ZES zones, super-depreciation, the Industry 5.0 plan, and countering rising material costs. Resources for the Messina Strait Bridge, however, have been postponed and will be reallocated. On the European front, the ECB warned that certain provisions in the Budget Law concerning banks could negatively affect credit, impacting loans, capital adequacy, profits, and liquidity, reigniting debate over the budget’s balance.
Monte dei Paschi: To avoid instrumentalisation, Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone has renounced delegated voting powers in assemblies of Monte dei Paschi and Generali. The board of Caltagirone Spa decided that voting decisions must be subject to the opinion of the Committee of Independent Directors. The Board also reviewed investigations by the Milan Prosecutor’s Office into alleged “concerted” agreements with Delfin and other parties related to Mps’s takeover bid for Mediobanca, rejecting accusations of market manipulation and obstruction of supervision, asserting that purchases and votes were not coordinated, citing temporal, quantitative differences and frequent divergent votes between Caltagirone Spa and Delfin.