Giorgia Meloni opened her speech at the Rimini Meeting by thanking volunteers and organizers, defining the event as “the dialogue square par excellence.” The reference to the theme of the edition – “Building with New Bricks” – was the cue to talk about the need to face current challenges with courage and pragmatism, without succumbing to the “culture of nothingness.”
Italy returns to the forefront
The Prime Minister claimed the progress made on the international stage: “Today Italy is seen as a strong, stable, and authoritative nation,” she said, recalling our country's centrality in global dossiers and support for Ukraine. “The Italian proposal for security guarantees remains the strongest on the table,” she emphasized.
Hot topics: Ukraine and the Middle East
On the conflict front, Meloni reiterated support for Kyiv and the commitment to “a just and lasting peace,” while on the Gaza case, she denounced “the horror of October 7,” but also “a disproportionate Israeli response that hit too many innocent civilians.” “Italy has been at the forefront of humanitarian aid,” she added, thanking Minister Tajani.
Mattei Plan and migrations
Great emphasis was placed on the Mattei Plan for Africa, which – according to Meloni – represents an alternative model to predatory logics: “Partnership, mutual respect, investments in training.”
On migrations, the Prime Minister defended the hard line against traffickers, claiming the decrease in irregular arrivals and deaths at sea: “We fight the root causes, we do not exploit migrants as cheap labor.”
Family, work, and growth
Meloni defined the fight against demographic decline as an “absolute priority”: “A society without birth rates has no future.” She relaunched the idea of a housing plan for young couples and claimed measures in favor of families for over 16 billion.
On work, she praised employment data and the historic law on worker participation in companies, recalling “over a million new jobs created in a thousand days.”
Reforms to change the State
The premiership, differentiated autonomy, and justice reform were indicated as “the three major reforms” to make Italy more stable and efficient. “We do not want governments overturned by palace coups: we need a Prime Minister chosen directly by the Italians,” she said.
Identity, Europe, and the West
Meloni invited the European Union to rediscover “cultural and spiritual roots” to remain competitive in the world. “Building with new bricks means reducing bureaucracy, defending businesses, tackling the demographic challenge, and strengthening security.”
Finally, she reiterated the role of the West as a community of values to be preserved and relaunched, with Italy ready to do its part.
