Domestic Policy
Olympics: The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, lit the Olympic flame for Milan-Cortina 2026 at the Quirinal Palace, marking the start of the Winter Games torch relay, during a ceremony accompanied by the flypast of the Frecce Tricolori. Mattarella expressed hope for the renewal of the Olympic truce, highlighting the universal value of peace embodied by the Olympics and the urgency of ending conflicts and violence worldwide. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also attended the ceremony.
Anti-Semitism: The Democratic Party continues to face internal conflict over the Delrio bill against anti-Semitism: reformists are pushing forward despite party opposition. The bill, along with three others presented by Forza Italia, Lega, and Italia Viva, has been criticised by Jewish writers and scholars who consider it dangerous, as it could restrict academic freedom and criticism of Israel, particularly due to the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism. After the head of the Pd group, Boccia, opposed it, some Democratic senators withdrew their signatures, while Calenda and Marco Lombardo, both from Azione, signed it.
Foreign Policy
USA: The United States is redefining its global strategy: it will reduce engagement in areas deemed less critical and concentrate resources on Latin America and immigration control, reallocating military presence to address threats closer to its hemisphere. Additionally, Washington has called on Europe to assume responsibility for most of NATO’s conventional defence capabilities—ranging from intelligence gathering to missile systems—by 2027, as announced during a meeting at the Pentagon with European delegations. The new strategy is outlined in a document published by the White House, which leaves no room for ambiguity: “European civilisation is at risk of erasure.”
Prime Minister: In an interview with La7, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented on the new U.S. national security strategy without excessive concern, stressing that Europe must learn to defend itself, accepting the costs of defence as part of an inevitable historical process. The economic plan increases funding for wages, healthcare, and public services, while maintaining a steady stance on Kyiv and support for Ukraine, with a focus on deterrence. Meloni committed to respecting the recognition of a Palestinian state under Parliament’s conditions, and defended judicial reform as a tool for stability and economic growth, highlighting the benefits of a more stable and less costly policy for the country.
Economy and Finance
Istat: Italian wages remain stagnant: according to Istat, real wages in September 2025 were still 8.8% lower than in 2021. The Di Vittorio Foundation estimates that private sector workers lost around €6,400 in purchasing power between 2022 and 2024 due to inflation and delays in collective bargaining renewals. The share of wages in GDP remains low compared to the EU. The CGIL has declared a wage emergency and called for tax reform and greater support for collective bargaining. The Censis also reports a decline in household wealth and a labour market driven by workers over 50.
Mps: In a document from the Consob’s issuer supervision division dated 15 September 2025, it is stated that there is no secret agreement between the Delfin and Caltagirone shareholders, and no collusion between these parties and Monte dei Paschi. The text addresses allegations that Francesco Milleri, president of Delfin, Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, founder of the Caltagirone group, and Luigi Lovaglio, CEO of Mps, had conspired to gain control of Mediobanca and Generali without complying with the mandatory Opa obligation on Piazzetta Cuccia. The board of directors of the Sienese bank unanimously renewed its “full confidence” in the CEO under investigation for the Mediobanca takeover.