Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and President of Forza Italia, will be in Sardinia today to chair a Conference of his party. A journalist fascinated by politics, Tajani, 71, answers questions on international and national current affairs, with a necessary focus on Sardinia.
Minister, these are the first days of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran. You have spoken to your colleagues from both countries even in the hottest and most tragic hours of the conflict. How can an initial dialogue be established between Iran and Israel?
«I am convinced that if the ceasefire between Iran and Israel holds, a new page can be opened in political and diplomatic negotiations. But I do not think it will be directly between the two opponents. The United States and Iran must start talking to each other again. The Iranian government itself does not rule out the possibility of going back to discussing with the United States. I must say that the proposals that the Trump Administration is putting forward in these hours are innovative and let us hope that negotiations will resume. But let no one think of carrying out new military strikes».
While a front in the Middle East could be closed, others are wide open, ranging from Gaza to the Lebanon and then moving to Libya in North Africa. Let us start with Gaza. What can Italy do to alleviate the suffering of an exhausted and starving civilian population?
«Italy’s humanitarian work is not enough in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by this war. Italy, however, has done much. It has truly been on the front line: after Egypt and Qatar, we are the first Western country to have welcomed Palestinian citizens from Gaza. First of all, children with cancer. Yesterday the Foreign Ministry allocated other emergency funds for the WHO and the UNHCR. Our approach is to put pressure on Israel to reach a ceasefire. The war in Gaza must end.»
The Lebanon. Our troops with Unifil are always on the line of the Litani River. Is it conceivable to propose changes to the rules of engagement, presence and deployment to the UN?
«After months of political paralysis, in the Lebanon the election of General Aoun, former Head of the Army, as President of the Republic was providential. According to the Lebanese system, without a President of the Republic the government in Beirut could not have full functions. Italy has regained command of Unifil with General Abagnara. Offering an element like Unifil for the stabilization of the Lebanon is very useful».
Libya. The situation seems to be getting complicated. Interested players, such as Turkey and Russia, are fanning the flames.
«The alarm over Libya is real: in recent weeks the Government has decided to forcefully take the initiative again. I have spoken about it to NATO and the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, and Prime Minister Meloni has done so with the Heads of Government. Many foreign players, first and foremost Russia, would like to step in to remain permanently not only in the east of the country but also in Tripolitania, just opposite Italy. Russia should think about ending the war in Ukraine instead of expanding into Libya and Africa”.
Ukraine. How can we bring the two belligerents to the negotiating table and how can we gain the trust of Russia, which is taking increasingly strict positions towards us?
«With regard to the conflict in Ukraine, I refer to the concept that President Mattarella uses on the need to equip our country with an adequate defence system. The two parties must be brought to a point of military equilibrium, and today this can only be done by continuing to support Ukraine in its defence and penalizing Russia economically. Putin must understand that continuing the war is now damaging to Russia and its government. The latest signals from the Trump Administration are less univocal than a certain initial impatience for Ukraine. We in Italy, the entire government, and I personally, have no anti-Russian obsession».
In recent days, the NATO Summit in The Hague was a turning point on the age-old problem of the contribution of the countries that make up the Alliance. What are the “limits” that the Government does not intend to break down?
«A new path has been started within NATO: the European nations of the Alliance have recognized that for too many years they have spent too little on collective defence, and that the defence of Europe has in fact been entrusted mainly to the military apparatus and the US political will. Two factors have made us change our minds, and decide to raise the level of spending: Russia’s very threatening war in Ukraine and the clear intention of the Trump Administration to tell its citizens “Americans, I will not spend your money to defend Europe if Europe does not start spending more”. The increase to 5% of GDP will not be immediate. There are clauses that will enable to consider the budgets of the various States. The Government will not cut health spending, social spending, or education spending. The rest is demagogy and propaganda».
Coming to national issues. The issue of the third term of office for the Presidents of Regions is definitely closed, but relations with the League see calm days alternating with others where there are pinpricks. How do you manage to be still together in the government?
«There is a government program and a government action, which are carried out under the coordination and synthesis of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, thus showing that the government is proceeding united and without real tensions. The different sensitivities are not an obstacle but rather the guarantee of a growing representativeness of the centre-right coalition. We are united by the fact that the centre-right project is a common project to rule Italy together. I almost never do so, but this is the case in which the left-wing parties need to be called into question: have you seen what is happening on the other side?»
Forza Italia is carving out an increasingly central role in the political landscape. How has the party changed in these two years? You are the party with the least top-down approach among the government forces.
«We are the centrist component of the centre-right with strength and dynamism. Since Berlusconi’s death, we have all had to take on a difficult operation: to stabilize a party created, experienced and modelled on him. We have taken the only possible path, i.e. trying to become a “normal” party, which holds its Congresses, chooses its leaders democratically, and revives internal debate. Forza Italia has its roots in the field sown by Silvio Berlusconi».
Forza Italia is in the opposition in Sardinia. You have been very harsh against the first sixteen months of the Todde government, opposing the method and political choices of President Todde. Do you think that there will be new elections soon?
«The situation seems very clear to me: the Board of Guarantee first and then the Court have clearly stated that there are irregularities that cannot be remedied and that President Alessandra Todde must resign from her office, condemning the Regional Council of Sardinia to dissolution. It is not a solution that we have determined or hoped for, but of which we must take note in order not to jeopardize democratic stability. It is sad to note that the Five Star Movement, so Manichean when it comes to others, in this specific case is taking refuge in a delaying tactic, with specious appeals».
In the last municipal elections of the only contestable capital, Nuoro, Forza Italia did not record brilliant results, probably also because of the candidate chosen to run as mayor. In other towns, such as Olbia, it rules with very high support. Can the “Olbia method” be reproduced?
«Every local reality is a story in itself. In Nuoro we ran with civic lists and this penalized us, considering that, in the last regional elections, in Nuoro the party got over 13% of votes thanks to the excellent work that the regional secretary, Pietro Pittalis, is doing throughout Sardinia together with the other leaders of the party. Settimo Nizzi in Olbia is ruling well and with an inclusive method that bears witness to the DNA of the party. The growing appreciation for his action, which also goes beyond the traditional boundaries of the centre-right coalition, is an exceptional result».
Last question. You are among the founders of Forza Italia, elected both at the European and the Italian Parliament. It is a prestigious and demanding cursus honorum. Have you ever thought of deciding to put an end to your political experience?
«Now I do not think about it. There is much work to do. Too many wars, so many problems in Italy, I have to lead Forza Italia. Let us go on until the right time comes».
