Meloni: confident in Iran truce. Chaos is growing but not generated by Trump

 "The events of recent months show that the idea of building a bridge is a failure because our interlocutor must be Europe. Trumpism, Madam President, does not foresee bridge-builders: it mocks them. Yet you, in spite of the evidence, are still convinced that ideological affinity can favour a privileged political interlocutor. The facts show that not only you, but other leaders alone cannot exert any influence on Trump because only Europe can. And I regret to see how you, Madam President, have not sat or been invited to the most important tables in recent months. This is a problem for Italy. Irrelevance is a problem'. This was said by Senator Francesco Boccia, president of the PD group, in his speech in the Chamber on the resolutions ahead of the EU Council.

 "To remain silent today, or to align ourselves passively with the strong powers of the day," Boccia continued, "is to betray our role, our history and our future. You have bet on Trump instead of on Europe, which you do not believe in. This bet has led Italy to irrelevance because blind alliance is not loyalty but renunciation of sovereignty. By choosing subalternity, by deciding to remain silent or applaud, you have renounced the role that Italy has historically had. We were once the home of diplomacy. Today we are in danger of becoming the country that always arrives later, applauds first and never makes an impact'..

"Dividing the world into good and bad is wrong, because it is true that Iran is a rogue state," but "is bin Salman on the side of the good guys? Is Netanyahu today on the side of the good guys? Where is the line between good and bad? The first danger is that the bad guys realise that if they get together they are more than the good guys'. Thus the M5s group leader in the Senate Stefano Patuanelli in the Chamber after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's reply to the communications for the forthcoming European Council

Regarding the war in Ukraine, 'I see a great simplicity in ascribing the status of Putinists to some members of the opposition. And this is based on the assumption that our position on the conflict in Ukraine leads us to support Putin. But to play Putin's game is to delude oneself that that conflict can end in victory for Ukraine,' added Patuanelli, for whom 'there is no just peace, but the peace that the two sides believe is possible. Does this mean being pro-Putin? Peace will not be right or wrong, it will be possible peace'.

"I see that the president, when she is in trouble, does an evergreen i.e. she dusts off nationalism against globalisation" but "globalisation is the thing that Made in Italy companies need to be strong in the world and create jobs. Nationalism is that of his friend Trump who puts tariffs and tariffs and takes money from these operations. You are for nationalism, we are for globalisation'. So said the leader of Italia viva, Matteo Renzi, speaking in the Senate after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's reply to the communications for the next European Council.

"I am happy with today's debate and I must say that I agree with a large part of what the government has said". This is how Action leader Carlo Calenda began his speech in the Chamber of Palazzo Madama where the explanations of vote for the 6 resolutions presented by the groups are taking place after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications in view of the European Council. And, referring to the various statements in which reference was made to Alcide De Gasperi, he noted that "De Gasperi would never have made alliances with those who write what those of the M5S have written in their resolution" starting with the criticism of NATO and the allies. Calenda acknowledged, however, that one is in the 'presence for the first time of a US president who does not recognise Europe as a strategic ally'.

'As a European,' he said, 'I was ashamed of how Trump treated the EU leadership. There is no memory of a US president who has treated Macron or the British prime minister like that. I am not worried about the role of Italy but of Europe'. And again: 'Trump, with his gigantic conflicts of interest, prefers to ally himself with Putin instead of Europe. And Maga wants the destruction of Europe. That's why we must arrive at having an independent defence,' continued Calenda, who then assured that Action will vote 'in favour of rearmament even if there are parties in the EU that will ultimately vote against it' because they are closer to Russia than to Europe.

"I don't agree that the chaos was generated by Trump", "they seem to me to be simplifications, it is true that there is a situation of growing chaos, but it doesn't start today". This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her replies to the Senate.

"On European defence you were saying Senator Delrio that we need a European defence and not the defence of individual states only that the western defence system is based on NATO and there is no NATO army but national armies" that collaborate and "I want a European column of NATO, but I think it would be a mistake to have a European defence parallel to NATO, it would be an unnecessary duplication. Then we need to collaborate more at European level and I agree with that'. Thus Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, replying after the debate on the communications ahead of the European Council in the Senate

The Chamber of Deputies rejected the resolutions presented by Pd, M5s, Avs and Iv on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications ahead of the European Council. Instead, the chamber approved parts of the Action resolution, those on which the government had given a positive opinion. The Pd and Avs voted no to some points of the M5s resolution, which was voted separately. In particular, that part of the text referring to a possible agreement with Russia on gas was the one that most split the opposition, together with the one on support for Ukraine

The Chamber of Deputies approved the majority resolution on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications ahead of the forthcoming European Council on 26 and 27 June. The document had 175 votes in favour and 109 against.

"We are against the target of raising military spending to 5 per cent, it is unrealistic and harmful. You did not tell the truth, it would mean 87 billion more per year, it would be the end of the Italian welfare state, the coup de grace to healthcare, to schools, to pensions. Sanchez has shown that you can say no'. This was said by PD secretary Elly Schlein in the explanations of vote after the premer's communications in the Chamber.

"We demand words of clarity about the future, say clearly that Italy will not be dragged into any war nor will it allow the use of bases to provide support for a war that Italy and the entire international community must be committed to stopping". This was said by Elly Schlein in the House on Iran, addressing Prime Minister Meloni.

"She managed to make the report without naming those responsible, Trump and Netanyahu. Trump acted without the consent of congress. We cannot predict the reaction of Iran, also of Russia and China. The repercussions can be unpredictable. Luckily Trump, his friend, promised to end the conflicts in 48 hours'. This was said by PD secretary Elly Schlein in the explanations of vote after the premer's communications in the House.

"Dear Count, your group tabled a resolution calling for cooperation with Russia on gas so as not to be subordinate to the US and Israel. I don't think that is the world view of this Parliament. But I think the M5s should have respect for a people, the Ukrainian people, who have been suffering massacres of civilians for three years thanks to Russia's invasion." This was said by MP Maurizio Lupi (Noi moderati), in the explanations of vote, after the communications of the premer in the Chamber

"If we are convinced that we are at an unprecedented moment in history, I expect a confrontation between the government and Parliament and between the majority and the minority. But I expect the majority to call the opposition to build shared positions and to do so before live TV and this parliamentary debate'. This was said by Matteo Richetti, leader of the Azione group, speaking in the Chamber after the premier's communications. And referring to Giorgia Meloni and Avs deputy Nicola Fratoianni, he added: "Both you and Fratoianni hope for de-escalation in all the planet's conflicts but you cannot say so and so the contribution we make to the parliamentary debate is poor". So he concluded: 'I am concerned that one of our great allies is governed by an entity that is turning one of the greatest liberal democracies into an autocracy on a par with Moscow. And it is no coincidence that Trump is leaving the G7 saying that "it is a mistake not to have Putin here with us". So, Netanyahu has the right to defend himself but let's not confuse that with the right to slaughter. I am interested in having the common goal of stopping a massacre that has nothing to do with Israel's self-defence. If we agree on this, let us translate it into parliamentary acts'.

On the 'Safe' programme, we are still reasoning about it, I do not exclude that Italy could make use of it, while on the National Escape Clause we believe it is not necessary, at least for 2026". So said Giorgia Meloni during her replies in the Chamber of Deputies following the general debate on the communications made by the Prime Minister ahead of the next European Council.

"He should guarantee here that Italy will not allow itself to be involved even indirectly in the escalation, that our bases will not give support to facilitate it." M5s President Giuseppe Conte said this in explanations of vote after the premer's communications in the House. "She has deluded everyone a little bit. I think her policy is flawed by big limitations, detrimental to the country. She does not want to undermine relations with the establishment, with those who do business in defence sectors. She confuses foreign policy with ideology, she acts to defend her political allies'.

"We have pointed out to her the absence of some quotations, it is not a stylistic appeal, pronouncing names like Trump and Netanyahu means indicating responsibility, making a judgement. I would have liked to hear her" Meloni "or someone in the government say: we condemn the unilateral use of force in violation of international law". This was said by the secretary of the Italian Left and Avs deputy Nicola Fratoianni in the explanations of vote after the premier's communications. "If she does not have the courage and does not take responsibility for a clear position," Fratoianni urged, "she becomes an accomplice in the destruction of a system of rules that has sought to shelter the world from the risk of a world war, of a road with no return. Then, speaking of Israel: 'Tell us what you want to do politically, recognise the Palestinian state, stop the arms trade, sanctions'.

"A ghost roams the chamber of the House. This time it is not that of the referendum, but that of the president of the United States: in the long speeches that have just taken place in the Chamber, Giorgia Meloni did not even manage by mistake to pronounce the word Trump, the president of the United States, who is playing the role of unpredictable puppeteer, together with Netanyahu, of the world crisis, from tariffs to the Middle East via Ukraine. Does Meloni really want to fool the Italians by hiding the responsibilities of her main ally, with whom our government boasts of having a privileged relationship? Does Giorgia Meloni really want to conceal the damage Trump is doing internationally? Does she really want to make people forget that our government is totally prone to this American administration, so much so that her deputy prime minister Salvini wanted to give him the Nobel Peace Prize?" Thus the secretary of Più Europa Riccardo Magi, after Premier Meloni's communications in the Chamber of Deputies.

"It would be useful to involve the oppositions, as her predecessors did ten years ago, at the time of international terrorism. It would be convenient for the premier to have advice from people who go beyond the magic circle, the magic flame, but no'. This was said by Iv's group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Maria Elena Boschi, in the explanations of vote after the premier's communications. 'If the premier wants the collaboration of the oppositions, stop attacking on the past and face the present'. Meloni 'tells us that Italy counts thanks to her. Yes we count the increase in tax pressure and irregular landings, inflation, bills'. And again: 'We are not at her side but at Italy's, when there are difficult challenges, if there is the will for a true and constructive dialogue we are there'.

With regard to the use of US military bases, "I have already said that Italy is not involved militarily, it has not participated and does not participate, the use of the bases has not been requested, which in any case can only be used with the authorisation of the government". This was said by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in the Chamber during her reply after the communications ahead of the next European Council. "I think it is unrealistic to speculate on scenarios that have not occurred, certain decisions are not taken on ideological grounds. In any case, I can say that I do not think it will happen, but I can guarantee that such a decision will have to go through parliament, unlike what happened when we were not in government,' she added.

"I do not want to respond to polemics, to some falsehoods in campaign tones. I believe that you perceive as I do the concern of the citizens and do not want to give the impression that we are more interested in accusing each other than' the interest of Italy, 'I prefer to postpone the campaign tones'. This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her reply to the Chamber.

"The US bombed Iran, we are here today to discuss mainly about that, and you, President Meloni, never once had the courage to mention Donald Trump in your entire speech: it already says everything about how you want to deal with the issue". Thus M5s group leader Riccardo Ricciardi during the general debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the premier's communications ahead of the EU Council. "Today she says that Iran must seize the opportunity...we have arrived at the bombs that create opportunities. Today,' the M5s deputy added, 'she managed to say that we must broaden our gaze on the Middle East by saying that there are also positive things but this is actually inviting us to look away from Gaza, from its 60,000 dead. She said that we must be proud of what Italy does while she had the deputy prime minister next to her who shook the hand of the genocidal Netanyahu while he was committing genocide, she said this while selling weapons to Israel'.

And again: 'You have only tried to accredit yourself, you have cleaned up your image by bending the democratic tradition of this country. You have generated a situation that you no longer control. You are leading a continent, a country, to war, perhaps you do not realise it, but you will not go there to die because the people go there to die and not the powerful. But you will not do it in the name of everyone, not in the name of the Italian people".

"The shameful motion of the M5S, between unilateral disarmament, abandonment of Ukraine and resumption of dependence on Russian gas, seems written by Putin. I believe that at this point the PD should take note that there can be no alternative government proposal to the right from those who have a foreign policy line on Russia identical to that of Salvini. Then it's up to you'. So says the leader of Azione, Carlo Calenda

The government must 'firmly dissociate itself and contest the US attack on Iran in every international forum'. This is what Avs' resolution calls for at the premier's communications scheduled for this afternoon in the House for the European Council. Avs then asks the government to "exclude any form of direct or indirect participation in military operations against Iran and to deny the use of Italian military bases and national infrastructure or airspace" and "not to adhere to any agreement in NATO and Europe that would lead to a further increase in military spending".

'Continue to guarantee full support and solidarity to the Ukrainian people and institutions, through all necessary forms of assistance' and 'promote a radical review of the rearmament plan proposed by President Von der Leyen'. This is what the PD resolution, filed in view of the premier's communications, calls for. The PD then asks the government to 'clearly state, also in the European Council, that following Trump's attack on Iran it will not take part in military actions nor will it allow our territory to be used to provide support for a war that the international community must stop'. On the subject of defence, Italy must push for "the construction of a true common European defence and not a rearmament of national armies without coordination, expressing the clear political will to move forward on the path towards the realisation of a defence union, also starting from forms of enhanced cooperation or differentiated integration between member states".

The Pd will abstain on the resolutions that the other oppositions will present today in the Chamber of Deputies, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to speak ahead of the European Council. This was reported by the leader of the PD group in the Chamber, Chiara Braga, speaking to journalists. The PD will vote against the majority resolution.

Each opposition force will present its own resolution on the occasion of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications this afternoon in the Chamber, ahead of the European Council. Among the M5s' demands is the "no" to the European Recall Plan and the increase in defence spending for NATO agreements, as well as the condemnation of the US attack on Iran. The M5s resolution speaks of a 'weak response from the international community, with the European Union in the lead', which has not expressed a 'clear condemnation of the US attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure'. "The European rearmament plan," the M5s resolution goes on to say, "resonates like a veritable call to arms by the European Commission. Among the commitments that the M5s asks the government to make are those to "immediately stop the supply of armament materials to the Ukrainian government authorities", to express "the Italian government's firm opposition to the Rearm Europe European rearmament plan" and to "avert any hypothesis of an increase in defence and security spending with reference to the achievement of the new NATO targets".

The M5s also calls for "not to authorise any request by the United States to use the bases granted in use to the American armed forces on Italian territory for military attacks against Iran and, in any case, not to provide any kind of military support, both infrastructural and operational, to the armed forces of the United States"; as well as to 'find an effective solution to the issue of gas transit and supply that does not exclude a priori and pro futuro a possible collaboration with Russia, in order to ensure the containment of electricity and natural gas prices as well as the energy resilience of the European Union, which must be able to adapt to the changing scenarios of the global geopolitical framework without tying itself to specific energy sources in a quasi-monopolistic manner'.

The general debate on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's communications ahead of the EU Council has begun in the Chamber of Deputies. The speeches will last about a couple of hours, after which the Prime Minister's reply, explanations of vote and votes will follow.

To continue with support for Ukraine, "for as long as necessary" and in a "perspective that immediately leads to a ceasefire" and "support for negotiations" for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East crisis, including the Iranian nuclear issue. These are the two commitments indicated by the majority to the government in the resolution put to the vote in the evening by the Assembly of Montecitorio, following the communications by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on the forthcoming European Council and the situation in the Middle East.

In particular, the Executive is called upon to 'continue the action already taken at the previous European Council, in line with resolution 6/00164 adopted by the House on 19 March 2025'.

"The need remains, at European level, to make the rules of the stability pact compatible with the increase in defence expenditure agreed with the allies. In particular, with reference to the excessive deficit procedures, regarding which it is necessary to achieve equal treatment and avoid risks of asymmetrical applications". So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her communication to the Chamber ahead of the European Council. At the summit in The Hague "we will discuss the proposal presented by NATO Secretary General Rutte on the strengthening of the Alliance's defensive capacity and we will be called upon to make commitments that match the complexity of the times we live in. Commitments that must be clear, transparent and above all sustainable from an economic and financial point of view, both for this government and for those that will come after us'.

"We must be prepared to do more for the security and defence of Italy and Europe. It is a strategic necessity that we can no longer disregard, because as I have already said in this Chamber, no nation and no organisation of states can be fully independent and sovereign if it entrusts its defence and security to others. This is the reason why I have always believed that it was the right choice to work to build a solid European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance, to be placed side by side with the North American one, with a view to strategic complementarity and also capable of stimulating the formation of a solid European industrial base'. Thus the President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni, in the course of her communications to the Chamber ahead of the European Council meeting on 26 and 27 June.

"Currently, the submitted proposal takes note of NATO's updated assessment of the threats and risks to Europe, the resulting defence plans and the possible reduction of the US contribution in terms of forces and capabilities. This translates into a commitment for all Alliance members to reach 3.5% of GDP in defence spending and 1.5% in security spending. These are important commitments, certainly, but necessary ones, which, as long as this government is in office, Italy will respect by remaining a first-rate member of NATO. For the simple reason that the alternative would be more expensive and decidedly worse. Around us we see chaos and insecurity multiplying, and we will not leave Italy exposed, weak, unable to defend itself or unable to defend its interests as it deserves,' Meloni concluded.

"Last 22 May, we signed an open letter asking for a high-level reflection on the international Conventions to which we are linked, and on the ability of those Conventions, several decades after they were adopted, to effectively address the issues of our time. Starting precisely with the phenomenon of migration. Obviously, the reflection we are proposing does not aim to weaken these Conventions or the values they embody. Our aim is, on the contrary, to strengthen them, because by adapting their application to a reality that has changed, we would only be making those texts more adherent to the needs and demands of citizens'. So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in her statement to the Chamber ahead of the European Council.

"In too many cases," he added, "the application of certain principles has produced results that are incomprehensible to most. I am thinking, for example, of cases in which, in application of the European Convention on Human Rights, nations are prevented from expelling foreigners who have been guilty of particularly serious crimes, in order to defend the security of their own citizens. The protection of refugees and displaced persons must be rethought to make it more effective and less hypocritical, and this may mean less reception on our territories but also more support in crisis areas. We have taken note of the willingness of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Berset, to deepen these issues, and with our partners we intend to initiate a serious political discussion, but also to analyse all the legal instruments available, because, as the Secretary General himself said, there must be no taboos on the possibility of updating some aspects of the Convention, obviously without ever questioning the fundamental rights that we all share and that are at the basis of European society".

"I announce that I am working with President Macron and Chancellor Merz to define common lines for the automotive sector: I think that our three nations working together can be a stimulus". So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking in the Chamber of Deputies.

"We are convinced that only coordinated diplomatic action can guarantee peace in the region, and this is the reason why we supported with conviction the negotiations between the US and Iran, which we hosted as you know in Rome in recent months. We are ready to play our part today as well, but the time has come to abandon ambiguity and distinctiveness. Iran must avoid retaliation against the US and seize the opportunity today for an agreement with Washington on its nuclear programme, knowing that it is possible to pursue a civil programme in a way that guarantees the total absence of military ends. The United Arab Emirates in this sense is a model in the region'. This was underlined by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking in the Chamber of Deputies for the government's communication ahead of the European Council.

NATO's updated proposal translates into a commitment of 3.5 for Defence and 1.5 for Security. "These are important commitments that Italy will respect. We will not leave Italy exposed weak and unable to defend itself'. This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking in the Chamber of Deputies.

On Ukraine we see "steps forward" but "insufficient" because Kiev's "commitment" "in favour of peace is clear, the Russian federation must show that it is seriously committed to the negotiating table, at the moment we do not see this commitment as demonstrated by the systematic attacks on civilian targets", even close to appointments such as Zelensky's presence at the G7: "attempts to undermine any initiative to make progress". This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her communication to the Chamber ahead of the European Council. It is "important," she added, "to exert coordinated pressure, we are ready to do so with the eighteenth sanctions package that focuses on the shadow fleet" for oil

"The possibility of relocating the embassy in Tehran temporarily to Oman is being studied". This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the House of Representatives, in her communication on the forthcoming European Council.

Right now, for Italy 'the priorities remain the ceasefire in Gaza and the resumption of negotiations on Iran'. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this to the Chamber of Deputies, in communications on the upcoming European Council

"We are convinced that it is necessary and that the moment can be seized to bring an end to the hostilities in the Strip and for aid to continue for a population that has suffered for too long. This is the fundamental objective to which we are devoting our main efforts". This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Chamber of Deputies, in her communication on the forthcoming European Council

"We will also reaffirm another objective, the ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's legitimate reaction to a senseless attack is taking dramatic and unacceptable forms". This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Chamber of Deputies, in communications on the forthcoming European Council

"In such a delicate phase it is important to have dialogue between government and parliament, between government and opposition for the good and security of the nation and I will do my best to continue and expand this dialogue". So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her statement to the Chamber ahead of the European Council

I want to 'confirm what has already been stated by Ministers Tajani and Crosetto', namely that 'no US aircraft have departed from Italian bases and our nation has in no way participated in military actions'. This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her address to the Chamber ahead of the forthcoming European Council.

They will be the leader of Più Europa Riccardo Magi, Iv group leader Maria Elena Boschi, Avs co-spokesperson Nicola Fratoianni, Azione group leader Matteo Richetti, Noi moderati leader Maurizio Lupi, M5S president Giuseppe Conte, FI deputy Andrea Orsini, Lega Nord MEP Alberto Bagnai, Pd secretary Elly Schlein and FdI group leader Galezzo Bignami to speak in explanation of vote after the announcements made by Council President Giorgia Meloni ahead of the European Council on 26 and 27 June.

Italy's posture in the Middle East chessboard was also the subject of a long phone call with the secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who asked the government not to take part in military actions nor to allow 'our territory to be used to provide support for the war'. An instance espoused by a good part of the centre-left.

Keeping Italy out of a possible military escalation without fraying the solid relationship with Donald Trump, remaining consistent with the assumption that Iran cannot equip itself with the atomic bomb while pleading the cause of negotiation. The position that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni must take in the face of the international crisis triggered by the attack on Iran by Israel and the United States, which raises the spectre of a global war and requires Italy to reshape its strategy, is a very complex one. But also on the table is the NATO summit on 24 and 25 June with European leaders' fears of Trump's clear disengagement from the Atlantic Alliance.

An initial confrontation will take place in Parliament, when the president is expected in the House for her communications ahead of the EU Council, with the parties limiting their resolutions on the subject after the development of the crisis in the Middle East.