Domestic Policy
Military Spending: The Italian government plans to increase defense spending by utilizing both the European Safe program and the national clause, which allows for strengthening armaments without breaching deficit constraints. Italy will be able to access approximately €12 billion through the safeguard clause, which will not affect other social expenditures. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti announced that if Italy exits the deficit procedure in March, a budget deviation will be requested to finance these investments. Despite criticism from the Five Star Movement, which accuses the government of mortgaging resources for military spending, Giorgetti has assured that there will be no cuts to welfare or healthcare. The final decision will be discussed in Parliament in the coming months.
Mondadori Arbitration: The European Court of Human Rights has rejected Fininvest’s appeal regarding the “Mondadori arbitration,” confirming that Italian court rulings did not violate Silvio Berlusconi’s presumption of innocence. However, the ECtHR deemed the procedural costs of €900,000 excessive, citing insufficient justification, but imposed no sanctions on Italy since Fininvest did not request compensation. The case concerns the €560 million compensation awarded to Carlo De Benedetti for judicial corruption dating back to the 1990s, involving several figures, including lawyer Cesare Previti.
Foreign Policy
Venezuela: The Venezuelan government has released an unspecified number of political prisoners, including Italian businessman Luigi Gasperin, but the fate of other Italian detainees, such as Alberto Trentini, remains uncertain. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to expedite the release of Italians still imprisoned. The release is part of a political transition plan supported by the United States and mediated by Qatar. According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are still 893 political prisoners in Venezuela, including 86 foreigners, many of them Colombians.
Emmanuel Macron: Emmanuel Macron harshly criticized the United States during his traditional address to ambassadors, accusing the Trump administration of abandoning its allies and adopting a “neocolonial aggressiveness.” The French president denounced the growing tendency of global powers to “divide up the world” and urged Europe to defend its own regulations, particularly in the digital sphere. Macron also emphasized that the United States is drifting away from international law, a claim reinforced by the U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations and conventions, including the UN Climate Change Convention, announced yesterday by the Trump administration.
United States: A riot erupted in Minneapolis following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent during an anti-immigration operation. The victim was observing the arrest of undocumented immigrants and, according to witnesses, was attempting to drive away when she was shot. The Trump administration claimed the woman posed a threat, while the FBI has taken over the investigation, excluding local authorities. Protests have spread across the United States, with demonstrations against federal government violence and the increasing militarization of law enforcement.
Economy and Finance
Unemployment: In November 2025, Italy’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7%, a record low, with a slight decline also in youth unemployment. Nevertheless, the inactivity rate rose to 33.5%, drawing criticism from the opposition and trade unions, who also highlight job insecurity and low wages. The total number of employed individuals remained stable at 24,188,000, thanks to an increase in permanent employment. The government celebrates the result, while noting also a decline in the spread, which has reached its lowest levels since 2008.
Tariffs: The U.S. Supreme Court is about to rule on the legality of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Over a thousand companies, including Costco, Goodyear, and EssilorLuxottica, have filed lawsuits against the U.S. administration. The Court may uphold presidential powers, impose stricter limits, or nullify the tariffs, potentially paving the way for billions in refunds. This dispute, which contributed to reducing the U.S. trade deficit in October, is being closely watched in Europe, particularly in Italian industrial sectors linked to exports to the United States.