Meloni: 'In the Chamber insults and demagogy'. Schlein: 'You have already lost the challenge'

Meloni dal banco del Governo interviene in aula alla Camera

La presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni nell’aula della Camera dei deputati in occasione dell’informativa sull’azione del governo, Roma, Giovedì 9 Aprile 2026 (Foto Roberto Monaldo / LaPresse)

In short, the PM emphasised that 'the majority is solid and cohesive'. 'I am proud of deputy prime ministers Tajani and Salvini,' she added. Recently, 'I asked for a step back' from some members of the government who had also 'worked well. They were not easy or painless choices,' but 'we have once again put the interest of the nation before that of the party. We have no time to waste on endless and specious polemics, which displace the debate' which must remain centred on the 'necessary solutions for the citizens. having cleared the field, I challenge you to real politics, to a debate on the merits'. The international scenario, he added, 'no longer allows anyone to get away with saying it is all Meloni's fault, even the rise in the world oil shortfall'.

One passage of the speech was in fact on the crisis in the Middle East, starting with the repercussions on energy costs. We need the "full restoration of freedom of movement in the Strait of Hormuz, which must not be subject to any form of restriction as instead seems to have happened in the last few hours: it remains one of the most critical points in the implementation of the agreement because if Iran were to obtain the right to apply extra-duties to transits in the Strait this could still lead to imponderable economic consequences," said the Council President.

"Italia," said the premier, "is ready to activate every possible measure to prevent possible speculative behaviour including, if necessary, further interventions on the profits of energy companies. It will continue with 360 commitment on the international front and with seriousness as it has done so far on the national front".

Still on the subject of theincreases in fuel prices, Meloni said: "It was our responsibility to intervene on the cost of fuel: we did so with an initial measure that cut the price of diesel and petrol by 25 cents a litre and introduced an anti-speculation mechanism that is working. We did it, initially, for 20 days, pending developments in the crisis, and with last Friday's Council of Ministers we refinanced it and extended it until 1 May. This is a choice that I claim, also in the light of the news of these hours, and which we will modulate as the peace negotiations progress and give us a clear time perspective of the interventions required'.

"We will continue to ask Europe to temporarily suspend the application of the ETS to the production of electricity from thermal sources, i.e. from thermoelectricity," Meloni said. "This is an extraordinary and urgent measure that is needed now, and at least until the global prices of fossil energy sources return to the levels they were at before the crisis in the Middle East. In the conclusions of the last European Council,' she recalled, 'we obtained the inclusion of the possibility for member states to take urgent national measures to mitigate energy prices in the short term. Ets included. And all this while waiting for an organic review of this instrument, also provided for in the Conclusions, to structurally reduce its volatility and impact on energy prices. With the energy decree we had asked that the Ets should not lead to an increase in the cost of renewables, in order to lower the overall costs: it is a rule that, as we know, requires the authorisation of the EU but, in light of the Council's conclusions, we are working with the European Commission and we are confident that the objective can be achieved".

"We have fought tax evasion like no one else," Meloni claimed. In three years we have collected over 300 billion euro, invaluable resources that help us keep our accounts in order and finance interventions in favour of families and businesses. And we have no intention of stopping: compatible with the public finance framework, we will continue to work to reduce the tax burden on citizens, families and businesses. Because this is what we promised, this is what we have done, and this is what we will continue to do, including with the next budget law

"Starting from the positive experience of the Single Zes in Southern Italy, which has proved itself and which we have already extended to Umbria and Marche, we intend to take a further step forward. In fact, we are studying the technical modalities for taking some of the mechanisms, particularly those of simplification of the Single ZES that have proved to be most effective, and applying them to the entire national territory'. This was indicated by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in her briefing to the Chamber of Deputies on the government's action.

As for the criticism, advanced by the opposition, that Italy's foreign policy is too little autonomous from US choices, Meloni clarified: "Italia's international position was not invented by this government, but has been the same for about 80 years. I say this to answer before the now predictable refrain about the subalternity of the undersigned to US President Trump or the even more predictable one entitled "Meloni chooses between Trump and Europe"".

Meloni announced a decree to combat poor work ahead of May Day. "Much has been made of wages in recent years but it is clear," the premier stressed, "that there are still pockets of poor work. So, in the Council of Ministers to be held in the run-up to Workers' Day, respecting a tradition that has been going on since we took office, we will enact further rules to combat poor work, strengthening the rights of those workers through collective bargaining".

In the run-up to the 1 May anniversary, said Meloni, "the Council of Ministers will finally approve the measures needed to implement in Italia that vast Housing Plan we have been working on for some time. A robust, structural plan, which aims to make available, among social housing and at subsidised prices, over 100 thousand houses in the next ten years".

Still addressing the oppositions, Meloni said: "I challenge you also on this, not only do you usually meddle in the work of the commissions" but "I take the liberty of asking the parliamentary anti-mafia commission to deal with the attempts of organised crime infiltration in the parties, including FdI. While some use the issue for propaganda, I am interested in building antibodies on an issue that affects us all. And I do not accept that my sacrifices can be used for the interests of those I have been fighting since 19 July 1992 without ifs and buts and I do not accept lessons on this issue'.

Giorgia Meloni's was a 'speech of self-doubt', emphasised PD secretary Elly Schlein speaking in the chamber after the Prime Minister's speech. "You challenge us, but I'll give you news. You have already lost that challenge because you defied the Constitution and the sovereign people beat you in the ballot box. You can see that you are very keen to return to the opposition, we will accommodate you. If you are not too busy with the scandals of your ministers, I will send you a postcard from the real country, the country where real salaries have fallen by 9 percentage points in the last 4 years