Domestic Policy
Centre-right: Pier Silvio Berlusconi expresses strong appreciation for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, describing her as one of the most effective leaders in Europe and acknowledging the government’s positive results during a complex phase. The CEO of Mfe also reflects on the future of Forza Italia, stressing the need for renewal without betraying the values inherited from Silvio Berlusconi. From Mumbai, Antonio Tajani welcomes these observations, confirming the party’s commitment to updating liberal thought and promoting a new leadership class.
Publishing: The potential sale of Gedi’s publishing assets to the Greek group Ant1 is stirring political and editorial circles, with Repubblica on strike and La Stampa in a state of unrest. Undersecretary for Publishing Alberto Barachini has summoned the company and editorial committees, while the centre-left demands that the government report on the matter. Institutional figures such as Senate President La Russa also call for dialogue, describing newspapers as a democratic bulwark.
Foreign Policy
Ukraine Conflict: U.S. President Donald Trump is considering new talks on the war in Ukraine, but only if genuine prospects for an agreement emerge, while Kyiv and European partners have sent him a revised 20-point peace plan. The central issue remains the status of occupied territories: Zelensky, who also addressed the Coalition of the Willing, is open to the idea of a referendum but demands security guarantees and a ceasefire. Meanwhile, discussions are underway about freezing the front line and a possible Russian withdrawal from certain areas. The overall plan includes security guarantees, reconstruction, and Ukraine’s path toward EU membership.
Venezuela: The United States has seized an oil tanker bound for Cuba off the coast of Venezuela—an operation announced by Donald Trump and accompanied by new sanctions targeting figures close to the Maduro government. Caracas and Tehran denounce the seizure as an act of piracy, while bipartisan criticism emerges in the U.S. over the risk of military escalation. Meanwhile, María Corina Machado, who dramatically fled Venezuela with American support and arrived in Oslo, praises the pressure exerted by Washington and asserts that the regime is now weakened.
Economy and Finance
Budget: The Italian government is recalibrating the initiative by Fratelli d’Italia concerning gold reserves following formal observations from the European Central Bank. Economy Minister Giorgetti directly explained the requested clarifications to President Lagarde. Frankfurt has acknowledged the explanations while announcing further checks, allowing the amendment to remain in a revised form that now has no concrete effects. The European Commission reminded that gold reserves fall under monetary policy and that any potential use would not impact public debt.
Employment: In the third quarter, Istat recorded a slight decline in employment: the number of employed persons decreased by 45,000 compared to the previous quarter and by 7,000 year-on-year, interrupting a 17-quarter growth streak. The employment rate remains stable at 62.5%, while unemployment falls to 6.1% and inactivity rises to 33.3%. The number of permanent employees and self-employed workers increases, while fixed-term contracts decline; full-time employment grows and part-time employment decreases. The number of people seeking work rises to 1.44 million.