Energy and fuels

Meloni's warning: 'Ready to tax those who speculate on war'

A monitoring report will be provided on Monday to check for speculation. The 'issue of preventing speculation from causing prices to explode is obviously another of our priorities,' Meloni said

by Rome Editorial Staff

8 March 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Mobile excise
Warning to speculators
Meloni like Crosetto: international law violated in Iran
The attack on the judiciary

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

From the judiciary to the crisis in the Middle East and its consequences. Like, of course, the high fuel prices that have also arrived in Italia. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a guest on Fuori dal Coro on Rete4, intervenes on several fronts, reiterating some concepts said in a message Saturday night on social media.

Mobile excise

Such as the use of the mobile excise duty to try to lower fuel prices. On petrol in particular, the government is 'considering activating the mechanism that has existed since 2008 and that we have made more effective with our fuel measure in 2023. If prices were clearly to rise in a stable manner, it is a mechanism that allows you to use the part of the higher VAT that comes from the increase to lower prices by reducing excise duties. Among other things, the famous sterilisation of excise duties is also being called for by part of the opposition. We have already been studying for a few days the activation of this mechanism, but in short, I am very determined to do what I can to prevent speculation from exploiting the crisis on the skin of families and businesses'.

Meanwhile, the premier added, a report on monitoring, will be provided on Monday to check for speculation. The 'issue of preventing speculation from causing prices to explode is, of course, another of our priorities. The energy authority has activated a task force, I believe we will already have the first reports tomorrow to monitor energy prices, especially gas prices'.

Warning to speculators

Precisely, the speculation Meloni issued a warning. "I take the opportunity to reiterate that I advise everyone to be cautious, because I do not rule out, when we have evidence of attitudes that are speculative, even raising taxes on companies that are responsible for putting money back on bills in particular.

Meloni like Crosetto: international law violated in Iran

The PM, speaking about the US and Israeli attack on Iran, agreed with the words of the Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, a few days ago in Parliament. Namely that international law has been violated.

"I agree with what the minister said and I think that we have to deal with a framework in which the rules of international law have objectively jumped. I don't think they have jumped with this episode, because there are many precedents, but certainly the picture is one of great chaos. In my opinion the crisis has become structural, particularly with the invasion of Ukraine because who is it that should enforce international law? In theory it is the United Nations, but we have the anomaly of a UN Security Council member invading its neighbour four years ago to try to annex it'.

The attack on the judiciary

Then there is the magistracy parenthesis, also in view of the referendum on Justice which 'also intervenes on matters such as immigration and security'. The prime minister recalled that these two issues travel on three levels: laws 'made available' also by the government, the work of the police and the 'judiciary enforcing the laws'. "If one of the three levels does not work," she added, "the mechanism jams and I know of many cases in which the mechanism has jammed.