Minister Urso, a few days ago you gave your lawyers the mandate to initiate legal actions against Lavitola regarding his relations with the Report editorial staff.
“I have not reported Lavitola, but my lawyers have added some elements that emerged in recent days to the judicial proceedings against Gioele Magaldi. His testimony, later revealed to be completely unfounded, was cunningly used to build the Report broadcast in which I was accused of adhering to international Freemasonry. Even Ranucci was forced to acknowledge that the main accuser, on whom the entire broadcast was based, had provided no evidence to support his claims, apologizing to me ‘for the inconvenience caused’: basically, for not having conducted any verification of the sources as was his professional duty before constructing that campaign of attack. Now we know that Lavitola frequented Report assiduously, obviously only out of friendship, and as stated by Magaldi himself, he would be part, indeed, of the same Masonic consortium as my accuser. Strange coincidence…”.
You have also urged the reconstitution of the Rai Supervisory Commission to shed full light on the Ranucci affair. What is the current situation?
“The Supervisory Commission is the parliamentary body mandated to oversee the public broadcasting service and the compliance with the obligations provided by Rai’s service contract, of which my Ministry is responsible, including investigative journalism activities, the highest expression of public service. At this moment, its lack of operation prejudices the exercise of the parliamentary control function. An extremely serious flaw, of which I believe everyone is aware.”.
Read more A. URSO: «Left in crisis Now it is up to the right to rebuild Europe» | Libero Quotidiano.it
Ranucci accuses you of having moved Copasir against him...
“The decisions then taken by Copasir were unanimous. And I was the only member of the Committee representing the opposition, that is Brothers of Italy: for this reason, I fulfilled the role of President.”.
What unanimous decisions?
“The acts are confidential. I can only tell you, because it appears from public records, that we held the hearing of Honorable Ruggieri, at his explicit request, for reasons that have recently resurfaced. The rest is covered by secrecy.”.
Will the majority be able to find agreement on preferences in the electoral reform?
“I hope so, also to meet the expectations of the voters. Anyway, it does not concern or affect the government’s activity, which is completing the legislative program.”.
So the snipers have not undermined the solidity of the center-right?
“Certainly not the solidity of the Government, which is cohesive and determined, also thanks to the strong leadership of Giorgia Meloni. We are all aware that stability is the country’s competitive advantage in a context dominated by uncertainty. Just look at the rest of Europe to understand it.”.
How likely are early elections?
“Next year there will be elections in Spain, France, Poland, in much of the German Länder, perhaps also in Romania and, everywhere, as increasingly often happens in recent years, forces alternative to the left increase their support: the ‘Italian model’ prevails. When we will vote here is not decided by the Government: at most, anyway, in October 2027. In the debate, some hypothesize a few months earlier, to avoid coincidence with the budget law. But I consider it more a school exercise.”.
Is the left in crisis?
“The European left has imploded because it has no answers to the challenges Europe must face. Whatever its form – Labour, social democratic, socialist – it appears as the rearguard of the past: it is in crisis everywhere. A cultural and political crisis, sometimes also moral. It is up to the right to refound Europe, if the voters want it, under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni and, therefore, Italy.
Moving on to the economy, what measures does the government intend to adopt to curb energy prices?
“The war in the Gulf has lasted almost five months, preceded by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon; the one unleashed by Russia in Ukraine has lasted over four years. Yet the Italian System holds, to the surprise of many. We have become the fourth largest exporting country in the world and foreign investments are growing. Last year we recorded an increase of almost 57,000 companies; since the beginning of the legislature, we have 1.2 million more employed; unemployment has dropped to 5%, the historic minimum, and household purchasing power has increased by 4.7%.
We are well aware that, if the war should continue, further emergency interventions will be necessary both on the fuel front and on electricity production. We will evaluate and act promptly.”.
Are there other measures in the pipeline for businesses?
In the next business decree, we will give further impetus to renewables – in recent years energy production from these sources has increased by 40% – and we must accelerate on civil nuclear, that is on small modular reactors, safe and clean, which could be operational by 2035. We must secure the country’s energy, reducing dependence on foreign countries, with a mix of renewables and nuclear.”.
You have criticized the reform of the ETS system. What does not convince you?
“An attempt was made to please everyone, displeasing everyone. The breach in the wall of ideology has nevertheless opened precisely thanks to Italy’s leadership; now it must be widened, imposing a pragmatic and realistic vision. Courage is needed. Free allowances must be adapted to the times of industrial investments and the availability of green technologies; benchmarks must be truly sustainable and support measures for European exporters must also be prepared. The Commission has opened a gap, but the proposal remains too timid: now a real reform is needed, which fully takes into account the needs of industry, still largely unrecognized in the proposal presented on Friday. Italy will do its part to improve it, together with the Member States and the industrial system. We must avoid that the goal of ‘net zero industry’ actually translates into a ‘zero industry’.”.
Volkswagen has announced over 100,000 layoffs. How much responsibility does Brussels have for the collapse of the European automotive sector?
“The epicenter of the earthquake is Brussels, because they persisted in the mistake of imposing rules that paved the way for China’s dominance. Four years ago we were alone in denouncing it; now many agree with us. We imposed the reform agenda; now it is necessary to decide quickly, because the collapse of the German auto industry has serious repercussions on the entire supply chain, also in Italy. There is no time to lose: while Brussels discusses, Sagunto falls.”.
Read more Mario Roggero, Giorgia Meloni breaks the silence | Libero Quotidiano.it
