Finish line and departure.
Giorgia Meloni swore with her 24 ministers at the Quirinale
.
First female Prime Minister of the Republic, first conservative leader to cross the threshold of Palazzo Chigi.
It can only be a "historic day" for the Italian Right and the voice cracked by the evident emotion of the new Prime Minister, while before the Head of State he promises (reciting the ritual formula from memory) fidelity to the Republic and to the Constitution, he stands there to witness the significance of the event.
Meloni defined the "circle that closes" after seeing a photo of Paolo Borsellino in Montecitorio, recalling his
entry into politics 30 years ago
after the Via D'Amelio massacre.
But if a certain path started in the neighborhood sections of the Italian Social Movement and in the student organization of the Youth Front ends, it begins with an
unprecedented challenge at the head of the country, indeed of the "Nation"
, definition preferred by Meloni and lexical choice which is already a program.
"Here is the government team that, with pride and a sense of responsibility, will serve Italy.
Now immediately to work", he writes on Twitter as soon as he left the Quirinale
after the oath of his government.
In reality, work on the dossiers began some time ago because
there are so many emergencies
- from
the war in Ukraine to expensive energy
- complex and urgent dossiers and time, especially in view of the economic maneuver, is short.
The premier's first moves will therefore be on
the international front
, with the possible meeting with Emmanuel Macron in Rome and, next step, the visit to Brussels to meet Ursula Von Der Leyen among others.
Former Prime Minister
Mario Draghi bequeaths "the work done" to her
, public accounts in order, with debt and deficit both down in 2022 compared to last year.
But the outlook for the economy is not rosy, as well as for interest rates, which are already under pressure and, according to forecasts, will rise sharply next year.
In this scenario, the
most difficult task is entrusted to the new Minister of Economy
, Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is responsible for the
development,
in a very short time,
of a Budget Law
whose bill, from the start, appears already high.
The first step will be the
extension until the end of the year of aid to families and businesses
due in November, which could result in an amendment to the aid decree ter (which will begin examination by the special commission in the next few days).
But first there is the Nadef (update note) and the Dpb (budget planning document) to be integrated, which will provide a first snapshot of resources and economic policy indications.
According to estimates, the new supports on expensive energy to secure the first quarter of the year alone risk absorbing around 30 billion.
Concrete help could come from the agreement reached by Mario Draghi in Europe whose decisions, which will be formalized in the coming weeks, "will soon translate into lower bills".
The issue of pensions
is also on the table
.
In addition to the revaluation of checks, for an expenditure of 8-10 billion, there is also the need to intervene to
prevent the return to the Fornero law in 2023
and on this there are several ways to study, one is that of a Quota 41 with an age threshold that would make it possible to contain spending.
The new government, on the other hand, will have to use caution on the front of
electoral promises
, including the Flat tax: the League pushes for an extension of up to 100 thousand euros in turnover but the president of Confindustria Carlo Bonomi brakes and calls for caution.
On the political front, a decisive decision will concern the
budget gap
.
The question seems to divide the center-right: Salvini has been insisting for months and
Meloni continues to define him as the last resort
.
For Giorgetti, who does not say he is "against", there remains a possible option to consider.
Former economy minister Daniele Franco warned: "We need a lot of caution and a pragmatic approach".
The open fronts are different, and Giorgia Meloni knows that the
political challenge is as epochal
as her assignment.
And she can't lose it.