Fratelli d’Italia leader Giorgia Meloni accepted a mandate to form the new Italian government from State President Sergio Mattarella today, and presented her list of ministers. The two most important posts, Economy (Treasury) and Foreign Affairs, go to Meloni’s allies Giorgetti (Lega) and Tajani (Forza Italia). The latter nomination means that the attempted sabotage through the leaking of Forza Italia founder and former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s statements of praise for Putin has failed. Tajani is an opportunist, a shallow figure who owes his entire career to Berlusconi. He should therefore be considered Berlusconi’s extended arm.
As to Giorgetti, he is the leader of the internal opposition to Lega party head Matteo Salvini and the one responsible for the catastrophic Lega decision to support the Draghi government. He was presumably the most “trusted” Lega figure for the markets to run Italian finances; all in all, the shift from a central banker to an elected official is a progress.
Important is also the nomination of Lega’s Salvini to infrastructure minister. Now Salvini can put the money where his mouth is: during the election campaign, he promised to build the Messina bridge and other infrastructures in Southern Italy. Getting the money from party colleague Giorgetti should not be a problem. Also, Salvini is, together with Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister.
The pro-Messina bridge faction is also represented by former Sicily regional chairman Nello Musumeci, who is new Minister for Mezzogiorno and Sea Policies.
