«I invited Meloni to Arcore. Relations must be intensified»- Corriere.it

LESMO (Monza and Brianza) – «I do not exclude, during my speech, the possibility of falling asleep. As long as you don’t tell Crozza about it, otherwise it becomes part of his program … ». The effect entry continues to be a specialty of Silvio Berlusconi. Even afflicted by his recent fall (“I could have died…”), even sleepless after spending the night writing the speech, he is always unbeatable in setting the scene. Beyond the “stories” that he also does not fail to present the Lombard candidates in the astounding Villa Gernetto di Lesmo.

Then, given that the day must close a complicated week for relations between the allies, the former prime minister announces that he has invited Giorgia Meloni to Arcore «since I still can’t move. She accepted.” Berlusconi does not omit his praise: “Giorgia Meloni is an absolutely intelligent and capable person, so you will be a good prime minister in the coming years for the Italians”. Up to her highest acknowledgment: «Besides, I don’t see any other people around who can compare to her».

Attention: that of the founder of Forza Italia is not a surrender. He remains convinced of the need for greater confrontation between allies and does not want to be faced with choices that have already been made: «We talk, yes… But we must intensify our relations and make use of my international experience of over 30 years». In short: “We loyally support and will support the Meloni government and the decisions that we will take collectively”. But this “does not mean giving up our identity” because “Forza Italia is the key party of this majority. No one can question our loyalty to the government.” But it applies to everyone: “Reciprocal loyalty is a guarantee of stability, today and for the next 5 years”. The emphasis, in speaking, is on the word “reciprocal.”

The fact remains that the black line is already being drawn on the near horizon of thunderstorm. In the 10 pages of the intervention, Berlusconi dedicates two to the “presidentialism we want”, which “is nothing more than the possibility for voters to choose directly, skipping the mediation of the parties”: a reform “in which we deeply believe”. The blue leader recalls that “reforms by their nature must have the widest possible convergence”. And it will be necessary to devote “all the necessary patience” to convergence. That does not mean, however, “giving someone the right of veto”.

The fact, however, is that the other institutional reform, the differentiated autonomy of the Regions Berlusconi does not dedicate – deliberately, his parents explain – not even a mention. Not even a syllable. A majority meeting will be held on the subject tomorrow, after Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini have already reached some form of agreement: the idea is that by January 30 the reform will land in the Council of Ministers and be hinged on parliamentary work . Overhearing the chatter among those present at Villa Gernetto, it seems to understand that the blue governors Bardi, Toma and Occhiuto are ready to make themselves heard.

Surrounded by his group leaders Licia Ronzulli and Alessandro Cattaneo, «essential points of reference in Parliament and in Lombardy», Berlusconi however returned to a delicate issue: «I am anxious about relations with Russia. I had tried to convince Putin to enter our Europe. I didn’t succeed because there were some countries that, thinking of losing their supremacy in Europe, said no. But Russia, which is a European state in all respects, by joining the EU and NATO would have constituted an absolute defense against China’s expansionist intentions».