Manoeuvre, EU Commissioner, 'ius scholae' and RAI: majority in turmoil

Giorgia Meloni met Matteo Salvini at a farmhouse in Ceglie Messapica and then the two of them phoned Forza Italia leader Antonio Tajani, who is currently in Fiuggi for a few hours of relaxation. Informal talks, useful to take an initial stock of the situation in view of the resumption and to agree on the summit in Rome for 30 August. From that moment on, they will enter into the merits of several open issues, among them the EU appointments, but also the knot of RAI appointments and the delicate dossier, already open at the ministerial level, of the manoeuvre. The convivial tenor in the farmhouse does not, however, rule out tensions in the majority.

Salvini is worried by the 'progressive' spirit rediscovered by Forza Italia, which in recent days has relaunched the battle over the ius scholae (foreign minors - born or arrived in Italy as children - would become Italian citizens after having attended compulsory school or, alternatively, two school cycles), not envisaged in the government programme and which sees the Carroccio's clear opposition, while receiving the backing of Azione, Italia viva, 5 Stelle and Pd. While FdI glides over the blue proposal, thus underlining the lack of interest in the battle supported by FI.

In the background there is also the RAI nomination game, with the wall-to-wall on Simona Agnes as president, wanted by Tajani and Meloni, but opposed by Salvini, who would like a Legazi new director general in place of the Melonian Giampaolo Rossi. In the meantime, the Prime Minister, even in these days of holiday relaxation in Ceglie Messapica, is weaving the plot to unravel the knot of the choice of European commissioner. Firmly on the track is Raffaele Fitto. And of subordinates, in a delicate phase of negotiations, there can be none. Although, among others, the name of Elisabetta Belloni, a high-ranking diplomat and now director of the government's security information department, is also circulating, as is that of Roberto Cingolani, minister for ecological transition under Mario Draghi and current CEO of Leonardo.

Apart from the prime minister's direct relations with Ursula Von der Leyen, which are considered decisive for any solution, there is reasoning in majority circles that Italy's role as a founding country of the EU will play a role in the final choices for the team of commissioners. Italy is aiming high with Fitto and with the goal of strong delegations such as those involving the management of the Pnrr or agriculture. In this framework, some reasoning could have been done in the farmhouse on the possible future government set-up should Fitto move to Brussels. And on one point, the Prime Minister's position seems to have been clear for some time, it is said in majority circles: no reshuffle or reshuffle would be envisaged, so an interim that will be taken over by the Prime Minister is more likely.

Then there is the manoeuvre chapter. The final amount will be decided close to the preparation, but as of now it can be assumed that it will be no less than 24-25 billion. And like every year, it will be a hunt for resources.