MNI: Italy's Right-Wing Coalition Arguing Over Jobs- Officials

Italy’s two largest right-wing parties are already locked in a tussle over ministerial appointments in what polls indicate is almost certain to be their shared government after Sunday’s elections, with likely future prime minister Giorgia Meloni trying to keep the nationalist League out of positions which could cause trouble with the European Union, senior officials at the parties involved told MNI.

While Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy is heading to finish first in the vote, its lack of experience in government means it is open to non-partisan appointments in some key posts such as the finance ministry, said a senior party official, though he added “Not too many independents, because then what is the point of being in the government?”

European Central Bank Executive Board member Fabio Panetta could be among possibilities for the finance ministry post, former senior ECB officials have told MNI, though the Brothers of Italy official, while praising Panetta, declined to comment on that speculation. A spokesperson for the ECB said that Panetta declined to comment.

Former finance minister Giulio Tremonti, now a member of Brothers of Italy, has also been touted as possibly returning to his old post.

Meloni is prepared for the League to take a high profile in a future coalition government, but she is keen to limit the scope for the eurosceptic force to start fights with Brussels, as she tries to reassure investors that Italy will keep its economic commitments with European institutions.

League leader Matteo Salvini wants to be appointed Interior Minister, a job he held from 2018 to 2019 when his party was in coalition with the populist Five-Stars Movement, League sources said. Salvini has also questioned the effectiveness of economic sanctions on Russia and wants EUR30 billion in additional government borrowing to fund Italy’s response to the energy crisis, in contrast to reassurances from Brothers of Italy that the next government’s first budget should keep to outlines set out by current Prime Minister Mario Draghi. (See MNI INTERVIEW: Italy Budget To Keep Draghi Outline-Meloni Aide)

FORZA ITALIA BACKING MELONI

Brothers of Italy suspects that the League is betting on a short term in government during which it can win back the conservative base it has lost to Meloni, said another source in her party, who expected difficult talks over ministerial appointments.

“It is not going to be that easy. I don’t expect this to be resolved until weeks after the elections,” the source said.

The coalition’s third grouping, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, is confident that it will receive at least three ministries, including foreign affairs for the party’s number two, Antonio Tajani. The party, which is pro-European, is leaning towards backing Meloni in her tussle with the League, a Forza Italia source told MNI.

While it is possible that Brothers of Italy and the League would between them have sufficient parliamentary seats to form a government without Forza Italia, this would not be optimal for Meloni, said a source in her party who was formerly a member of Forza Italia.

“I don’t think it happens. But if it does, they would be needed for their connections in Brussels,” he said.

Both Meloni and Berlusconi are willing to offer Salvini a major role in planned reforms of the tax and pension systems, on which the three parties can easily find common ground, Meloni’s aide said.

The League, for its part, is emphasising its greater experience in government, and has been irritated by what it perceives as the attempt by the other two right-wing parties to sketch out the shape of the future administration between them.

“We want to be part of the process,” the League source said.

While the League would be prepared to back Meloni for prime minister if voting results are in line with polls, Salvini has noted that formally the next head of government will be chosen by President Sergio Mattarella, adding that the three right-wing parties should all be included in consultations with him after the elections.

(Additional reporting by Luke Heighton)