The new Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, today took the reins of the country’s Government with a symbolic ceremony for the transfer of powers together with her predecessor, Mario Draghi, and bringing together her entire cabinet for the first time.
Meloni, head of the far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI), received from Draghi the small bell with which prime ministers mark the start of their government meetings, an act that symbolizes the transfer of power.
FIRST
Thus, the 45-year-old Roman politician became the first woman to receive this bell in the country’s history and, as tradition dictates, she rang it with a smile and then shook hands with the outgoing prime minister.
Previously, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, she had been received in the central courtyard of the Chigi Palace by a picket of honor, which she reviewed accompanied by the military adviser of that institution.
Later, after paying tribute to the tricolor flag, she was received by Draghi on the first floor of the palace, with smiles and signs of cordiality, where they held a meeting behind closed doors to discuss the most pressing issues for the country.
BYE
The meeting between the two was longer than usual, lasting almost an hour and a half, and its content has not been disclosed.
Once concluded, the trumpets of the picket marked the end of the political era of Draghi, who governed the country for twenty months from February 2021 with a coalition of unity supported by all parties except Meloni, his only opposition.
The workers and officials of the palace also said goodbye to him by applauding him from the windows.
The political change in Italy is taking place quickly and without obstacles, as Draghi himself had requested given the energy crisis and other ills that concern the Roman power.
Meloni, who was sworn in this Saturday before the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, will lead an Executive made up of the three parties that make up the winning coalition of the September 25 elections: his, Matteo Salvini’s League and Forza Italia of Silvio Berlusconi.
The next step, in the next few days, will be his investiture in the two seats of Parliament, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, a formalism since he has an absolute majority.
The first task of the Council of Ministers today will be to approve the appointment of the conservative Alfredo Mantovano as undersecretary of the presidency, one of the most influential positions in the Executive.
But it will also have to change the names of the ministries, as some unpublished ones have been proposed such as “Education and Merit”, “Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities” or “Companies and Made in Italy”.
Specifically, the powers must be clarified to avoid duplication.
WELCOME
Numerous world leaders have congratulated Meloni, who in recent months has moderated himself and has pledged his government’s loyalty to Europe and the Atlantic Alliance.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von Der Leyen, highlighted the fact that she was the first Italian Head of Government, as she was of the Community Executive.
“I count on and look forward to constructive cooperation with the new government on the challenges we face together,” she wrote, to which Meloni replied: “Eager and ready to work to strengthen the resilience of the European Union in the face of our common challenges.”
The president of Ukraine, Volódimir Zelenski, also congratulated her, with whom Meloni has spoken on other occasions to assure him of the continuity of Italian support: “Italy is and will always be at the side of the brave people of Ukraine who fight for their freedom and for a peaceful fair. You are not alone,” she tweeted.
He also received the good wishes of the President of the United States, Joe Biden: “The United States and Italy are united by a deep friendship and transatlantic collaboration, founded on common values. We will strengthen them, fighting together for freedom and international security,” Meloni promised in a statement. EFE
