Giorgia Meloni's live interview on SkyTg24. Don't miss it!

President good evening Thank you for accepting Schiaffiggi24's invitation I'll start right away given the context—we're just steps from the heart of the Council of Ministers One of the most pressing issues driving politics right now is the upcoming referendum on justice Yesterday the Head of State spoke at the CSM delivering a clear and decisive message in both tone and substance In defense of the Superior Council of the Judiciary he stated that other state bodies also When considering the judiciary executive and legislative branches they must all hold the CSM in equal respect So how did he assess it having read these words and perhaps had a chance to hear it in these past hours I haven't heard from the President of the Republic in recent hours we had met the night before In the traditional anniversary gathering of the Lateran departments I found the President's words appropriate indeed necessary I believe it is right to emphasize respect among institutions I also think it was appropriate for the President of the Republic to make that statement It also emphasizes that it's important for an institution like the CSM say to remain independent from matters of a political nature And I tell you more I believe it is extremely important that this referendum campaig It remains up to you to decide whether we're discussing something worthy I see an attempt shall we say to drag her into a mudslinging battle It seems to me that this is an attempt that let's say appeals more to those who face difficulties I apologize for criticizing a reform that in the past I and various others have supported and advocated I believe it certainly doesn't make sense for those of us who consider we've simply carried out a sensible reform It's not a right-wing or left-wing reform as proven by the fact that it has bee proposed over the years and decades by the most diverse political factions It's a common-sense reform that allows for a more just justice system which allows the merit of judges to be freed so to speak from the influence of factional politics and establishes a principle in my view trivial yet profoundly important that eve The judge if found to have erred will be evaluated by an independent third party These are the things the reform does and I believe it's important to focus on the substance This reform and not let's say trying to turn it into something else right Meaning a polarization a referendum on the government This concerns those who can't engage with the substance It doesn 't concern us because I believe this reform and its confirmatio may simply do good for Italy There is a theme that could be decisive and it is in this match as in others of a different nature I am referring to participation in the voting Some polls including one recently released on Sky24 show this trend with a very slight edge for the no vote only in the case of low voter turnout Here I ask you how significant is voter participation and thus also the understanding of the text How might the fact that it has been subjected influence the final outcome and in what way Guard it goes without saying that I believe in democracy so the more people participate in elections the better The more I think about it the better I believe I've done my job but I think the same can be said for all political parties According to the polls let me say that if I've learned anything about politics ese polls six weeks before the vote when we know full well that the vast majority citizens decide in the past few days in the past few weeks whether or not to vote And as for going to vote they're leaving it to chance I think the real campaign for this referendum hasn't even begun yet We're now roughly a month away from the voting date We'll do what we can but I believe everyone should take responsibility for this o ensure as many people as possible go to vote and vote thoughtfully Funny how here I can't help but smile when the government loses a referendum—kind of like at home Did you ask about this point No but I've clarified it a hundred times as it does concern others Anyone who cannot speak about the merits of the reform to rally their supporters to vote must abandon the goal If the goal isn't reform then why can't I honestly say that in the end really I can't honestly say the reform isn't a good one so I must say: go vote to get rid of Meroni Now we vote in the upcoming political elections in a year And that remains the goal When Italians want to send us home they’ll have a huge opportunity to do so within the next year Be careful—I unlike others am not someone who clings desperately to power If the Italians don't want me to continue governing this country they'll judge us let's say in a year Clearly after all the work that has been done I believe it's fair that we be judged on the entirety of the work we've accomplished Judicial reform is extremely important but it's just one of the 500 things we've accomplished Therefore I would like us to be judged as a whole On March 22nd and 23rd we are not voting on the government—we are voting on justice Whatever decision the Italians make will affect their lives and it will do so far beyond the lifespan of this government Far exceeding the lifespan of most governments Because a constitutional reform on such an important matter It affects your life your children's lives So the advice I would give to Italians is Go vote but vote with conscience focusing on what you're voting for not on anything else You voted for you not for me and not against me Therefore there is an important text but it will not be this one that determines the horizon of a legislative term He as we've been told will go on to the next one I've said it many times before but because I truly believe it's right It's because a government isn't personalized that it's judged as a whole a topic that is so important to citizens' lives I think simply that improving the state of the Italian justice system It should not be something done either for the government or against the government It's done for oneself it's done for Italy it's done to build a more modern nation It's done in order to achieve something that has eluded Italy for decades Why are the tones always so defensive whenever someone tries to do something to improve the state of justice They become apocalyptic Why Because in Italy everything can be reformed except justice Is justice in Italy really that perfect Is there anything that can be done to improve it even for the many judges who will be voting We know it after all we see them on the committees—there are also countless judges who support a yes vote in the referendum And therefore I support the reform Which means it's not a reform aimed against judges no It is a reform designed to strengthen the state of justice Agreed clearly this is more than legitimate But I don't understand the doomsday rhetoric being used to describe a reform I repeat of utter common sense even some of those who now sound apocalyptic have supported this in the past Just steps away from the Council of Ministers we're in the map room Let's look at this world that is changing—so many things are happening One of them has occurred today in these very hours Bordo Pist is where the major focus of European partners Italy and other international actors lies Donald Trump spoke this afternoon a mission that had begun with some reservations from several European countries including the Vatican itself Today as Donald Trump said we've already looked at a peace scenario so he's asking for the most well enthusiastic support Where are we in this journey which in any case won't be short Well it's certainly a very lengthy task I've spoken with Minister Tajani who like Eisa represented Italy Today as an observer country in this meeting Minister Tajani informed me that the meeting was very concrete which was not a statement of principles but rather let's say built on how to implement the various points of the peace plan Clearly we know that the ceasefire is a fragile one and that the work required to stabilize the ceasefire peace building the two-state perspective and thus achieving lasting stability in the Middle East is an especially complex endeavor Today the majority of European countries were in Washington All the parties involved in the region naturally interested in peace in the Middle East as well as several other global actors I believe it is very important for the international community to provide a unified contribution on this issue which is particularly sensitive and significant for Mediterranean countries And therefore naturally for Italy as well this is the reason I considered it essential for Italy to be present But the work ahead is still long Italy is offering its availability on multiple fronts as we have already stated previously One of these areas where we are certainly making a difference is the training of Palestinian security forces We’ve also been asked in these past weeks and months precisely with our Carabinieri to carry out work that we are already doing Will that be the kind of engagement I certainly think so regarding the training of security forces Italy can make a difference and it already does so to some extent so on this matter I am absolutely committed as are we all which incidentally is shared this time around as far as I can tell across Parliament We are continuing our support through humanitarian aid And then we'll see what other forms of participation are required In that part of the world constantly on edge there is growing concern over potential American moves against Iran Diplomatic talks have already been attempted and the situation has been announced I can only imagine your concerns during these hours They are also my concerns clearly one hand we must make sure We know the risks involved if Iran acquires nuclear weapons On the other hand I believe it would be important at this stage to reach an agreement and avoid any disruptive elements which could become even more explosive in a situation that is already fragile Then we need to see whether there is the willingness to do it but as you know Italy has already done so in the past Given this we appreciate his support and contribution We have also hosted this in Italy at the humanitarian embassy two rounds of negotiations have taken place and we are willing to do so aga We're trying to convey messages in this direction He sees a more immediate horizon not saying a turning point contact regarding a ceasefire that remains very distant in Ukraine whereas given Italy's significant efforts over these years of war Given that we're approaching the anniversary I see significant progress The documents we're undoubtedly handling There is excellent work being done on the subject of security guarantees for Kyiv which as you know is based on an Italian proposal which was to draft them in the image of Article 5 of the Atlantic Pact There is progress on the reconstruction of Ukraine and there is also a peace plan though many issues remain on paper they've been resolved but we're still very far from addressing the core issue —the matter of the territories where Russia continues to make claims that in my view are utterly unreasonable and I believe as I've said many times it's importa at we are able to achieve peace and also that we are able to achieve a just peace because clearly when the rules of international law are breached A situation is being created that can only become increasingly chaotic and such a world is not in our interest Today President Macron spoke out She entered the scene amid a dramatic incident involving an activist who died in France Macron said to some extent Italy and those who lead it should mind their own business —does anyone really want to interfere in this matter Guard frankly Macron's statement really struck me— I didn't expect it at all first of all because my reflection isn't specifically about France— I've had a thought I truly believe in about how things are becoming increasingly polarized In Western democracies particularly the political clashes I see a climate I don't like I see it in Italy I see it in France I see it in the United States —I also commented on the murder of Charlie Kirk when it happened ot because there is any desire to interfere in others' affairs but because I believe it is a reflection that leaders across all sectors must undertake ow we fight a climate that could set us back decades is a story Italy has lived through very well and moreover France is very well aware of this having granted political asylum to a host of Red Brigandine militants for several decades So I have to say I didn’t experience it as interference—I’m sorry that Macron does I think interference is something else for example when a leader is elected to head the government o their own citizens hearing a foreign state say we will monitor the rule of law's implementation—that's interference Intervening among other things to express solidarity with the French people on an issue that clearly concerns everyone is not interference so I regret that Macron didn't understand Returning to Italy the decree on energy was long anticipated let's prepare the electricity bills dossier There was a green light— what was the government 's stance on this crucial step which was highly anticipated The government's position was both very important and very courageous a measure by which we release around 5 billion euros to ease energy bill costs for the most vulnerable households and businesses With benefits that are tangible and significant for vulnerable households the reduction in utility bills reaches approximately 315 euros roughly half the cost depends clearly on the size of the business but for a small craftsma A small restaurant owner can save about 500 euros annually on their electricity bill and around 200 on their gas bill f targeting larger enterprises particularly medium and large-sized ones annual savings increase significantly which could be around 9 000 to 10 000 euros if you go with large industries for example the gas plants you can reach a benefit which amounts to 260 000 euros in a year and is therefore mandatory and we are striving to intervene structurally effectively promoting the much-discussed decoupling that has been so widely talked abou between electricity and gas prices what does it mean to lower bills even by fighting speculation and we are striving to take actio on another fairly complex topic to grasp but one that's very important—those are the ETS which are essentially e problem is that the cost of ETS is calculated not only on polluting energy sources but also on clean energy sources which makes absolutely no sense so we are working to remove the ETS calculation from renewables for example clearly for a move of this nature serve the EU's interest but is this compatible with all the work and on long-distance average then there are many other measures which are highly technical it will become clearer the impact of the measure that we approved yesterday Those well-versed in the subject have described it as courageous and in addition we have also covered a portion of this measure with a 2% increase equivalent to 2 percentage points for companies producing energy and this I believe is also a signal for distribution The image of Niscemi was striking — a tragedy affecting thousands of families a situation not new yet deeply moving because episodes of sixth-degree geological activity as we've seen in the past have prompted investigations and the government's intention to ac As you've seen from your presence here to support that reality what are you moving forward on Well yesterday we approved another decree In the three regions of Sicily Sardinia and Calabria we have allocated a total of 1.1 billion euros which add to the 100 million we had already allocated—I want to emphasize this because when we allocated the funds— The first 100 million for the emergency sparked this surreal debate over whether weren't allocating enough resources But usually resources are allocated for immediate emergency needs and then work begins on reconstruction We naturally focus on the three regions on restoring infrastructure on compensation clearly for economic activities that have been most significantly affected by the suspension of taxes another obviously very important issue regarding social cushions for workers We treated Niscemi separately even though it was included in the same decree with an investment of 150 million euros primarily intended for e houses that must be demolished to secure the territory and provide answers to those who lost their homes naturally along with restoratio Even there infrastructure is needed to combat isolation in Niscemi and all the measures I mentioned earlier They also apply to Niscemi in the specific case of Niscemi we have decided to appoint an extraordinary commissioner the figure of the head of civil protection it becomes immediately operational because for me the most important thing in Niscemi is that it never happens again what happened at the end of the 1990s when compensation was paid to some of the citizens who had been involved precisely In a similar landslide arrivals came even after 14 or 18 years let's just close the Olympics—there are so many wonderful Italian stories ey will conclude the Paralympic journey will begin the world's eyes on our country which has distinguished itself with so many athletes and sportspeople who have left their mar on debut what impression did it leave her with this feeling of Italy at the center and what can this Olympics leave behind I believe it conveys such profound awareness of just how extraordinary this nation is and this message reaches me clearly not only from the audience As you know there are countless counterparts— heads of state and government—coming to follow They all set off making enormous compliments for the organization and for an Italy that never fails to surprise and that for me is the most important thing Clearly it's still too early for me to make a judgment as there's still much to come oday two days and as long as the Olympics and then the Paralympics are still going and I'm sure everything will be fine There are some young people who brought our flags and some gave me a profound emotion last night when I finally got to see the beloved ones I am especially pleased that Italy surpassed itself in this competition and that it did so on home soil at it has won more medals than ever before in our Winter Olympics o see how all of Italy starting with the countless volunteers who give their all without asking for anything in return does its bes because in the Olympics everything works smoothly seeing all these people I believe it made a difference especially for the athletes Thank you Mr President Thank you all