“I am not a careerist. I chose Forza Italia; I was fortunate to follow Berlusconi. I defend freedom, Ukraine, and its right to resist.” Interview with Antonio Tajani, Foreign Minister and Secretary of Forza Italia, “with an alpine pace”.
Minister, what is your reply to Russia, to the propaganda that defines Italy as a “Ukrainized” country?
“My reply is that the rule whereby a larger country can attack a smaller one will never prevail. All aggressor countries must accept this. We will provide aid to Ukraine, and it will be military, political, and civilian aid. Russia wants to divide the Western front, even with its ongoing propaganda provocations, but it will not succeed. It is very simple: Ukraine is right, there is an invaded country and an invader. No one wants the war to continue, but the principle of abuse of power cannot and will not prevail.”
With regard to President Trump’s visa denials, he said: “Europe needs an electric shock. A tug-of-war with President Trump is pointless.”
This President Trump relaunching his bid for Greenland?
“He makes grandiose statements, but we need to understand his true objective. Let us focus on tariffs. Thanks to the work of Commissioner Sefcovic and Prime Minister Meloni’s skills, a solution has been found. Italy and the United States have different positions on the web giants, but I will not give up dialogue. I will not split the Euro-Atlantic axis. Trouble if we break us apart!”
He announced: “The next weapons decree will not be a warmongering or pacifist decree. It will simply be a fair decree.”
Tajani: “Russia’s propaganda will not win. President Trump? We need to talk.”
He spoke about Forza Italia, the budget law, the electoral law, Calenda, Occhiuto, and told about himself: “I have an alpine pace.”
Tajani, do you really believe in Putin’s peace? What do you think of those – namely your ally, Salvini – who reiterate that Putin and Zelensky are the same?
“To begin with, let us restore some truth. Russia is not winning the war, Ukraine was not defeated in three days. We are faced with a method. Russian disinformation exists, and much worse even exists, namely hybrid warfare. I still remember the first time Zelensky landed at Ciampino airport. On that occasion, the Foreign Ministry website was attacked. That is the reason why we have established an ad hoc unit at the Foreign Ministry that deals solely with security.”
We level the usual criticism. Why does the government not use even stronger language against President Trump, who denied Thierry Breton visas? Why do you have a lukewarm attitude towards President Trump, who dreams of taking over Greenland?
I am part of a pro-European government. If that were not the case, Forza Italia would not be in the government. Just think of Prime Minister Meloni’s position on frozen assets. We are not lukewarm, but we believe in dialogue, in the Europe-America axis.”
We reminded him that the Meloni government was among those opposed to frozen assets, but Tajani retorted that “Italy only expressed doubts about legal issues, and in the end, an agreement was reached on Eurobonds. We could not make a mistake. We remained faithful to our values and, at the same time, we stood by Ukraine.”
We pressed him again on President Trump, on his paths of glory, and Minister Tajani made reference to his mentor, Berlusconi: “I stand by his opinion that Europe is the second pillar of the Atlantic Alliance, but it is a Europe that needs to move beyond unanimity. The idea we have in mind is Einaudi’s federalist one. We are inspired by De Gasperi’s Europe. President Trump encourages us to change.”
Minister, did you wish Salvini a Merry Christmas?
“We did so in a chat, the Ministers’ chat.”
What impression do you get of seeing Economy Minister Giorgetti besieged by his own party?
“I am not worried about bickering and quarrelling. Instead, I am thinking about the good results Forza Italia has obtained: €6 billion for companies; aid for the middle class, thanks to the cut of personal income taxes; the hyper-depreciation, and funds for healthcare. Transition 5.0 has been funded. The initial rules on dividends have been amended. We have listened to the suggestions of banks and insurance companies. I myself have held meetings in my office with credit institutions, with Minister Giorgetti and his deputy, Maurizio Leo. We have reached the result of a contribution that is not an imposition on banks, but simply the result of dialogue. We have also stopped the sugar and plastic taxes.”
How can Tajani, the pro-European, stand with Borghi’s League?
“The question to be put is another: how can the left parties be credible? We have different positions, but within the centre-right coalition we have always achieved a trade-off and personal relations are excellent. The left-wing parties are divided; they only speak to the extreme left parties and have forgotten the centre.”
What is your relationship with Occhiuto? Are you ready to challenge him?
“Occhiuto is one of the deputy secretaries of FI, and I appreciate the contribution of ideas he is bringing, along with those of Benigni, Cirio, and Bergamini. I was the one who initiated the congresses. We have reached 250,000 members, real members. In FI, we are all co-authors and co-responsible for our destiny. We are the party that Berlusconi always wanted: we are Christian-liberal, believing in the Constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty, pro-European, pro-Atlantic, those of Telese’s manifesto.”
Is it true that you will be forced to change the Heads of the parliamentary groups, Barelli and Gasparri, to please the Berlusconi family?
“They are elected, and Barelli was Berlusconi’s choice. Both have always been friends with Berlusconi and his family, and they have never left the party. They have always been there, in good times and in bad times. Together with Maurizio Casasco, FI’s economic Director, and Senators Damiani and Lotito, they are the protagonists of a budget law that has paid off.”
Would you like to have Calenda as an ally?
“We have many points of contact. In Turin and Milan, we can reach an agreement. We do not annex parties, but we find common ground.”
Do you think Salvini could be again Interior Ministry in a Meloni II government?
“First we have to win elections. I certainly have no preconceived ideas against anyone.”
What electoral law do you want?
“Proportional representation with a coalition bonus and a 3 percent threshold.”
Dear Tajani, how can you live Tajani-style, as a Secretary that needs to report to Marina and Pier Silvio Berlusconi?
“I was a RAI journalist and I resigned to work with Indro Montanelli. I was Montanelli’s journalist and later I was fortunate to follow Berlusconi. I always left my job and never had job problems. I am a seasoned man, serene and, above all, free.”
Tajani, the mountaineer with an alpine pace.
