by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte
ROME, Oct 18 (Reuters) – The formation of a government seems to be progressing in Italy after the easing of tensions between Giorgia Meloni, called to take over the presidency of the Council, and her ally Silvio Berlusconi on several of the main ministerial portfolios.
Brothers of Italy (FdI), Giorgia Meloni’s party, last month led a right-wing coalition to victory that includes Forza Italia, the movement founded by Silvio Berlusconi, and Matteo Salvini’s League.
But the talks on forming the government have since caused tensions within it, which last week led senators from Forza Italia to refuse to support FDI candidate Ignazio La Russa for the presidency of the Senate, without preventing his election.
Several political sources explain that Silvio Berlusconi was very irritated by Giorgia Meloni’s denial of some of his demands for the formation of the government. Differences which however seem to have been ironed out during a meeting between them on Monday.
Senior coalition officials have said they hope the new government can be sworn in early next week.
Giancarlo Giorgetti now seems well placed to become the next economy minister. Holder of the Industry portfolio in the outgoing government, led by Mario Draghi, he is considered one of the most moderate and pro-European figures in the League.
He would thus inherit the delicate mission of ensuring Italy’s financial stability and of reconciling the promises to lower taxes made by the coalition during the campaign with the requirements linked to a public debt which represents almost once and half the gross domestic product (GDP).
At the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, a longtime member of Forza Italia, could succeed Roberto Cingolani, we learned from a source within the coalition.
Silvio Berlusconi’s party could also recover the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would go to Antonio Tajani, former President of the European Parliament.
At the League, it is specified that Matteo Salvini should also join the government, but we do not yet know in what position. Several sources mention his arrival at the Ministry of Infrastructure while the post of Minister of the Interior, which he was eyeing, would go to one of his relatives.
The Defense Ministry would go to FdI member Adolfo Urso, a source said. (Report Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte, French version Marc Angrand, edited by Kate Entringer)