The G7 leaders’ summit organized in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, by the current Italian presidency did not pass without controversy. The countries at the summit found an agreement on loans to Kiev, and the Italian prime minister assured “unanimous support” for the US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. But what held sway until a few minutes before the dinner at the Castello Svevo in Brindisi, hosted by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, was the absence of the word abortion from the final draft of the summit. The controversy is reignited by French President Emmanuel Macron, responding to a question from reporters. «I’m sorry he’s not here, you know the position of France which has included the right to abortion in the Constitution. It is not the same sensitivity that there is in your country”, said Macron, “France shares a vision of equality between men and women, it is not a vision shared by the entire political spectrum. I’m sorry but I respect it because it was the sovereign choice of your people.” Words that could hardly have gone unnoticed by the hostess, Giorgia Meloni, who in fact replied promptly: «There is no reason to argue about issues that we have already agreed on for some time. And I believe it is profoundly wrong, in difficult times like these, to campaign using a precious forum like the G7.” A jab at the French president, who after the defeat at the European elections dissolved the National Assembly and called early elections.
The handshake
«The controversy over the presence or absence of the word abortion in the conclusions is totally specious. The conclusions of Borgo Egnazia recall those of Hiroshima, in which we already approved last year the need to guarantee that abortion is “safe and legal””, continued the prime minister, “it is an established fact and no one has ever asked to take steps back on this. In fact, the conclusions, if they do not introduce new arguments, in order not to be unnecessarily repetitive, simply recall what has already been declared in previous summits”. Just half an hour later the Italian institutions were lined up at the entrance to the castle to welcome the foreign leaders. Including Macron obviously, who protocol dictated was the last to enter the building. The handshake was warm with President Mattarella, then there was the hand kiss with his daughter Laura Mattarella, all under the attentive and severe gaze of the Prime Minister. Finally it was their turn to say hello: shaking hands, smiles of courtesy and kisses on the hand, gestures which however did not hide a certain coldness.
