Centre-right

Meloni-Salvini-Tajani summit on 30 August. The premier: against my sister Arianna desperate moves

In his editorial, Alessandro Sallusti speaks of a 'campaign to encircle the premier's sister' and of an alleged 'traffic of influence' linked to appointments

18 August 2024Aggiornato il 19 agosto 2024, ore 08:44

3' min read

'If it were true that they have now turned to the mud machine and the fabrication of theories to hope for some fanciful investigation against the people closest to me, starting with my sister Arianna, it would be very serious'. So says Giorgia Meloni contacted by phone by Ansa. "But in the end it would also be a good sign, because these sleazy and desperate moves by the worst politicians would only mean that we are dismantling the system of interests that has held Italy hostage for too many years. So, let us go forward with our heads held high, with even greater determination,' the premier added.

The alleged investigation against Arianna Meloni

The premier is referring to the headline in the Giornale 'They want to investigate Arianna Meloni', with an editorial by Alessandro Sallusti that openly speaks of a 'back-and-forth game' between 'hostile newspapers, magistrates and the left' that would conceal a real 'campaign to encircle the premier's sister'. According to the Giornale's reconstruction, the objective would be to investigate the premier's sister, head of the political secretariat of Fratelli d'Italia, for 'trafficking of influence' as a result of the role she is allegedly playing in the nominations game.

Giorgia Meloni comments on the accusations

"Unfortunately I find what Alessandro Sallusti wrote today in il Giornale very likely. On the other hand, it is a pattern seen over and over again, especially against Silvio Berlusconi: a system of power that uses every method and every subterfuge to defeat a political enemy that wins the democratic competition at the ballot box. They have scoured my life and that of every person close to me without finding anything to attack us'. So says Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni contacted by telephone by Ansa.

Tajani: risk of political instrumentalisation, as with Berlusconi

Fi's leader Antonio Tajani returned to the subject in an interview with Corriere della Sera: 'I would not like there to be an instrumentalisation for political purposes to weaken the Prime Minister and the government, using the judicial strand as was done with Berlusconi.

Foti: on Arianna Meloni attempt to poll

Tommaso Foti, leader of the FdI group in the Chamber of Deputies, in an interview with La Stampa, attacks: 'The fact that there is an attempt to pollute the elections seems quite evident to me when, instead of attacking President Meloni on a political level, which would be legitimate and rightful on the part of the press and the opposition, we have noticed an obsessive and compulsive attitude and a series of allegations against Arianna Meloni. He added: 'In the face of denials, they continue to revive hoaxes and to say that Arianna Meloni 'influences appointments',' he added. 'These accusations easily lead to trafficking in influence, which is a crime. If someone has this in mind, if lobbyists, businessmen, politicians in liquidation and some toga in search of notoriety have come up with this design, they can resign themselves: not only do they not frighten us but they will not pass".

Renzi's counter-attack

Matteo Renzi counter-attacks. In an interview with La Stampa, the Iv leader presses: 'We have done what the opposition must do: ask parliamentary questions. Did Arianna Meloni deal with Rai, Fs and everything else or not? If yes, just say so. If not, just deny it. But it must be said in Parliament and the government must say it. Instead, here we start with insults. And again: 'For me, if Arianna Meloni participates at the table of appointments, it does not open a judicial question but shows that we have replaced partitocracy with parentocracy. For me it is politics, not a crime. Head of government, sister and brother-in-law: such stuff only exists in North Korea'.

Centre-right summit for future strategies

Meanwhile, a summit was held between the centre-right leaders to take stock of the strategies to be adopted: "Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini had a two-hour convivial meeting in Puglia, at the farmhouse where the premier is spending a few days' holiday. It was also the occasion for a phone call to the other deputy premier, Antonio Tajani. The three leaders agreed to meet in person on 30 August to take stock of the most urgent dossiers,' starting with the appointment of the Italian commissioner for the EU Commission (the balance on the track is Raffaele Fitto), the choice of the new RAI top management, and the manoeuvre that will come to a head in September.