Lucrezia Ciotti Mario Monti partially sides with Giorgia Meloni on Italy's position in Europe, but urges the prime minister not to overly pander to Germany's choices. The Senate debate also highlights differences over foreign policy and the Vannacci case, with the prime minister responding: " I am a free person ."
Mario Monti supports Meloni on Europe, but issues a warning about Germany.
In the Senate debate on Giorgia Meloni's communications ahead of the European Council of 15 and 16 October , Mario Monti expressed appreciation for some of the Prime Minister's positions, starting with her desire to defend Italian interests within the European Union.
The senator for life recalled the prime minister's recent words, according to which " Italy does not sit in Europe to always say yes ," acknowledging the validity of this principle. The exchange took place on October 14, during the discussion of the issues that will be at the heart of the European summit, including competitiveness, energy, Ukraine, the Middle East, and security.
In his speech, however, Monti urged Meloni not to confuse defending the national interest with excessive adherence to Berlin's decisions . He was referring to the flexibility of state aid for businesses, a measure that, according to the senator, could favor Germany in particular, placing Italian companies at a disadvantage. To explain his concern, he raised the risk of a " Berlin syndrome ," urging the government to maintain a critical eye even toward its European partners. Monti also appreciated the prime minister's remarks on Ukraine and Iran, along with her criticism of US President Donald Trump's decisions. In his view, Meloni is demonstrating an evolution in her assessment of American foreign policy and responsibility for recent international crises.
Meloni responds to Monti's warning about Germany: "I'm a free person."
During his speech, Monti also addressed the relationship between Meloni and Roberto Vannacci , arguing that the Prime Minister should not focus excessively on the politician. " Don't chase him, fight him, " he declared, urging the Prime Minister to address his positions without fearing their political growth. According to the senator, if Meloni's pro-European beliefs correspond to her true intentions, there would be no reason to worry about Vannacci's competition. The Prime Minister responded by asserting her autonomy in political and diplomatic decisions: " Senator Monti, I am a free person, I am a person who has no scores to settle, who has nothing to thank anyone for ." Meloni then explained why her criticisms focus primarily on European institutions: it is within the Union, she explained, that Italy can exert its greatest influence and help correct what is broken.
The prime minister then rejected the idea that an alliance should translate into automatic adherence to the decisions of other countries . " If we are with the US, we must agree with everything; within the EU, we should agree with France and Germany, so we will do whatever Germany wants: that's not my way of interpreting foreign policy ," she stated.
The government's position, according to Meloni, therefore aims to maintain an independent stance both in relations with Washington and within the European Union. " We don't have a recurring ally; the only consistent factor is Italy's leading role and centrality ," the Prime Minister concluded, reiterating that the goal must be to protect national interests and contribute to Europe's future.