In Italy’s right-wing camp, which emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections, the house blessing is one-sided. Former prime minister and leader of the right-wing conservative party Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi, reacted angrily to election winner Giorgia Meloni’s veto of some ministerial candidates proposed by the media czar for the new government, according to media reports. The latter responded to Berlusconi’s criticism by saying that she was “not open to blackmail”.
During the Senate’s first session, Berlusconi noted derogatory comments about Meloni, which he described as “presumptuous, bossy, arrogant and abusive”.
Berlusconi: ‘You can’t negotiate with Meloni’
The sheet containing Berlusconi’s notes was photographed from afar in the Senate, enlarged and published by the Roman daily La Repubblica. It is impossible to negotiate with Meloni because she is intransigent, Berlusconi criticized the election winner and party leader of the far-right Fratelli d’Italia, the Italian media reported.
Dispute over Berlosconi .’s confidants
The background is the dispute over Berlusconi’s confidant Licia Ronzulli. Berlusconi would remove her as health or education minister in the new government, which is expected to be formed next week. However, Meloni vetoed the Milanese and does not flinch.
Meloni promptly responded to Berlusconi’s criticism. “There is one point missing from these notes: I am not open to blackmail,” Meloni replied to journalists who asked for the photo of Berlusconi’s notes.
Not a good omen for government formation
In protest at Meloni, Forza Italia senators had not voted for their party’s Fratelli d’Italia candidate for the Senate Presidency, Ignazio La Russa. La Russa was nevertheless elected with the help of some opposition senators. The dispute in the right-wing bloc doesn’t bode well ahead of the imminent formation of a government in Rome, which begins late next week.
Fratelli d’Italia emerged as the strongest single party in Italy’s September 25 parliamentary election, with 26 percent of the vote. The party is collaborating with Lega and Forza Italia of ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who received only nine and eight percent of the vote respectively. Meloni is expected to become Italy’s first head of government.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
