Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reaffirmed Italy’s loyalty to the United States, while making clear the relationship is one of equals, during an interview.
Speaking to Italian news agency ADNKronos on Friday, Meloni said, “We are determined to assert our interests, in the wake of the traditional friendship that binds us to the US, with loyalty but without subordination.”
The prime minister used the interview to address several topics, including sexism in politics. She stated, “I have been too many times the object of shameful sexist attacks, in the silence and indifference of those who talk a lot about women’s rights.” Meloni went on to say, “I would say that I’m used to it by now but I don’t want to say it, because we must not get used to things like this. Not for me but because it is not right, it is not acceptable, we must not resign ourselves to this barbarism.”
Columbus Day restoration
She highlighted the good relationship with US President Donald Trump, noting his decision to restore Columbus Day as a national holiday. “The latest fruit of these good relations,” she said, “is for example the US president’s announcement that he wants to restore Columbus Day, a holiday so dear to the Italian-American community, which in recent years has suffered a shameful ideological attack in the name of cancel culture. On behalf of Italians, I thank the president of the United States for this choice.”
Italy and the EU
Meloni also spoke about the European Union and her working relationship with the President of the European Commission. “It’s a consolidated collaboration and a relationship of esteem inspired by problem solving and also by maximum frankness,” she said, referring to Ursula von der Leyen. She continued, “When we have had different visions – as happened recently when I strongly supported that investments in European defence should not be limited to the issue of weapons but should address the security of citizens in all its aspects – we have asserted them with good results.”
On climate policy, the premier called for a revision of EU environmental rules. “Now I believe we need a step forward in the remodelling of the Green Deal, so that it no longer represents a burden on the competitiveness of our companies. These are issues that also emerged at the EPP congress and on which we must work quickly.”
Relationship with France
Regarding France, Meloni described her relationship with President Emmanuel Macron as pragmatic. “We represent two great European nations, friends and neighbours, with many common interests but also healthy competition in many sectors. We also represent two political families that have different cultural sensitivities.
“Our relationships are the result of all these nuances, but also of a habit that leads us to collaborate on many dossiers. As perhaps you have understood, I have a very pragmatic approach in international relations. I look at concrete results and in several fields, Italy and France are allies.”
Looking ahead to the next election, she said the centre-right government aims to meet its commitments. “We promised you, we did it,” Meloni said, calling it “the most banal thing on which politicians should be judged.”
Funding for workplace safety
On employment, she noted increased funding for workplace safety. “The government has found, together with Inail, an additional 650 million on this issue, which added to the 600 million already planned for this year, brings the available allocation to over 1.25 billion. We will meet on May 8 with the social partners to discuss the government’s proposals and listen to those that will be submitted to us.”
Meloni also condemned what she described as personal attacks against her family. “Some unscrupulous people have had no qualms about involving my family, my sister, the father of my daughter, even my daughter. Almost always without reason, in a strategy of banal character assassination.”
