Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party, launched a harsh criticism of Giorgia Meloni’s government during the explanation of vote in the Chamber in view of the European Council on 27 and 28 June. Schlein accused Meloni of waging a “war on the poor” and on the South, contesting the abolition of basic income and opposition to the minimum wage. “I don’t know who Meloni is referring to when she raises alarmism and victimism. You are waging the only war within our borders against the poor, against the minimum wage and citizenship income, and in the South with Autonomy which splits this country in two,” said the dem secretary.
On the subject of European politics, Schlein criticized Meloni for his alliances with nationalists and conservatives, which in his opinion place Italy at risk of isolation: “The problem is not his personal sympathies and friendships, but with whom to build strategic alliances to bring home results for Italy and Europe. You are allied with those who want exactly the opposite.” This is why he accuses Meloni of surrendering to Viktor Orban’s policies: “The fact that no one talks about redistributing those arriving in Italy anymore is not an achievement, but your surrender. While you make agreements with Albania, we in Italy continue to be the Albania of your friends in Europe, like Viktor Orban”.
The secretary of the Democratic Party also criticized the government for its management of international issues, stating that Europe must remain a peace project and not become a war economy: “The government is not doing enough for the ceasefire in Gaza and to free the Israeli hostages, to restart the peace process and also recognize the right of the Palestinians to a state in which to live in peace and security like the Israelis. Europe must do more to end the conflict and to reach a just peace in Ukraine”.
Schlein then underlined the need for greater social cohesion and a more strategic and less ideologically oriented foreign policy. He reiterated the Democratic Party’s commitment to defending democracy, the rule of law and the values of solidarity: “We will move forward in the European Union to defend democracy, the rule of law, the values of solidarity. We will also do it from the cities, as you have seen in the searing defeats of recent days: be ready because we are just coming” .
