#ITALY: Right-Leaning Brothers of Italy Party Wins Parliamentary Elections

[world politics news]

Italian voters rewarded Giorgia Meloni’s euroskeptic Brothers of Italy Party, propelling the country toward what likely would be its first non-Leftist government government since World War II, based on partial results Monday from the election for Parliament.

In a victory speech, Party Leader Giorgia Meloni struck a moderate tone after projections based on votes counted from some two-thirds of polling stations showed her party ahead of other contenders in Sunday’s balloting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#ITALY: Likely Future PM Meloni Rejects Fascist Label, Says She Is Closer To UK's Tories

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Giorgia Meloni, the favorite to become Italy’s next prime minister, has rejected claims that a government led by her far-right party could herald a fascist revival, instead likening her tribe to Britain’s ruling Conservatives.

The “Tories” as the U.K.’s governing party is also known, have themselves been criticized for pursuing radical right-wing policies, after leading the country out of the European Union, and planning to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, among other populist policies.

A recent poll had her "Brothers of Italy" party in a dead heat with the left-leaning Democratic Party. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: League Party Leader Wants Alliance Based on US Republican Party

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The Italian League leader, Matteo Salvini, has proposed creating a rightwing political force styled on America’s Republican Party in a move that threatens to spell the end of his tense partnership with his far-right sometime rival Giorgia Meloni.

Salvini’s League and other parties including the centre-left Democratic party and populist Five Star Movement that make up Italy’s broad ruling coalition have been left in disarray after failing to agree on a mutually acceptable candidate for head of state in last week’s presidential election, culminating with Sergio Mattarella, 80, being elected for a second term against his earlier expressed wishes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#ITALY: Senate Kills Gay Anti-Discrimination Bill Over Free Speech Concerns

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The Italian Senate has voted down a proposed law against homophobia which faced vehement opposition from right-leaning parties and the Vatican.

The bill, known as the ‘ddl Zan." after its 2018 author, sought to punish acts of discrimination and "incitement to violence" against gay, lesbian, transgender and disabled people.

It was proposed in May 2018 by Alessandro Zan, a member of parliament from the centre-left Democratic Party, in response to what he called an “exponential rise in the number and seriousness of acts of violence towards gay and transgender people."

Critics of the law said it risked endangering freedom of expression - because incitement could be interpreted as lack of approval of the gay lifestyle - and would have paved the way for “homosexual propaganda” in schools.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: All Parties In Coalition Gov't Except The Small Right-Leaning "Brothers Of Italy" Party

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Every political party in Italy has joined the government in a coalition to support prime minister  Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, except one.

The Right-leaning Brothers of Italy, which is currently polling at about 7%, has voted to remain the sole party in opposition. Despite the male name, the party is headed by a woman, Giorgia Meloni.

The party leader posted on Twitter that the directors of the party unanimously approved her proposal to vote against joining the government of Draghi.

“We do not believe it is possible to try to rebuild Italy with the same people who contributed to destroying it," she said.

Being the opposition party has advantages. The opposition party is entitled to airtime on the public TV station, for instance.

Meloni said the party, which was founded in 2012, will act as a "patriotic opposition."

Party senator Alberto Balboni said on the Senate floor Wednesday:

"In times of crisis, democracy must be strengthened and we in the opposition will guarantee democratic dialogue, without which democracy is destined to end up in a swamp of unanimity."

The anti-EU party has as its principles defending Italy's national identity, patriotism, the family, Christian values and on respect for the rules and on greater liberalism in the economy as well as fairer taxation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#ITALY: Former EU Central Bank Head Becomes Prime Minister

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The former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has been sworn-in as Italy's next prime minister.

Draghi put together a unity government of the main political parties, following the collapse of the previous administration last month.

It was thrown into chaos amid a row over how to spend EU coronavirus recovery funds.

Italy is still grappling with the pandemic and is also facing its worst economic crisis in decades.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: PM Conte Resigns, New Elections Possible

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned - and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.

Parties are divided over spending in the coronavirus crisis, in which more than 85,000 Italians have died.

Conte met President Sergio Mattarella, who may ask him to form a stronger government. Last week he lost his Senate majority.

But someone else could become Italy's PM, or a snap election could be called.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: EU Braces For More "Brexits" As Italians Vent Anger

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Brexit has appeared to spark those wishing to leave the EU in Italy into action, after a campaigner exclusively told Express.co.uk of a plot to see the country exit the bloc in less than two years.

Euronews recently reported that among voters in the EU’s “Big Four” of Italy, Germany, France and Spain, polling had found that Italians were the “most in favor of leaving the EU in five years’ time if Brexit is seen to be benefiting the UK, with 45% either agreeing or strongly agreeing with the idea."

Italexit Party spokesman Sergio Montanaro told there Express UK newspaper how they plan to take Rome out of the bloc in "less than two years".

He said: "Our goal is to leave the EU because it is possible. It is about political will. The Italian people, just like the British, want to get out of this cage."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: New Party Will Seek "Italexit" From European Union

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Italian Senator Gianluigi Paragone has launched a campaign to take his country out of the "Germanic" European Union.

Paragone, who was first elected in 2018, was expelled from the ruling Five Star Movement Party in January after opposing the government in a confidence vote on the budget. His new party will be called the "No Europe For Italy" group.

Paragone said: “I say ‘no’ to this Europe and I start afresh with Italy, because I want to start from the sovereignty of a state which has all the cards it needs to play all the markets.”

He claimed only ditching the euro and quitting the EU would trigger a genuine economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.

Paragone is said to have been influenced to by form the party by British UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Five Star Movement May Splinter As Coalition Ends

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Some members of the Five Star Movement could break away from the party, choosing instead to support populist League leader Matteo Salvini, according to reports.

As Italy faces new elections following calls from Matteo Salvini last week over disagreements between his party and his coalition partners in the Five Star Movement Party, Italian newspaper Il Giornale has claimed that some Five Star members may leave the movement to join the populist leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Dep. PM Salvini Will Call Snap Election After Differences With FIve Star Party Partners

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Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's League Party, has called for a snap election, citing differences with coalition partners over taxation and other issues

A failed attempt by the Five Star Movement to derail plans for a high-speed rail link was the final straw showing that the coalition could no longer govern together,  said Salvini, Italy's Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He compared the differences to a marriage, and called for a quick separation, "without slapping, for the children," he joked, at a party rally.

Salvini's right-leaning wing party is well ahead in opinion polls, due mainly to his stance against illegal immigration.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: "Stand Your Ground" Style Legislation Gets Final Senate Approval

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The Italian Senate has given final approval to the government's bill expanding the right to self defense, modeled on American "stand your ground" laws.

It was approved by the Upper House on its third reading with 201 votes in favor, 38 against and six abstentions.

Lawmakers from the parties supporting Premier Giuseppe Conte's government, the League and the 5-Star Movement, supported the bill, which expands the right to self-defense from intruders, was crafted by Interior Minister and League Party Leader Matteo Salvini.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#ITALY: European Union's Leaders Say Italy's "New Silk Road Deal" With China Is "Naive"

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EU leaders displayed a united front towards China on Friday (22 March) and warned the Italian government of the consequences of signing a bilateral deal with Beijing to become part of the new ‘Silk Road." The warnings came from both more protectionist-minded countries and free trade champions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Italy on Friday and Saturday to sign a memorandum of understanding with Rome to become part of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, China’s ambitious plan to finance infrastructure projects connecting Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.

Italy would not be the first EU member state to sign up, but it would be the largest European economy to sign the deal, and the first G7 nation. The initiative has become controversial given the strict conditions imposed by Chinese authorities. African nations have been threatened with confiscation of nationally-owned assets if they don't repay loans in a timely manner.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Deputy PM Salvini Condemns Bank Corruption, Calls For Break-Up Of Central Bank

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Italy’s coalition government is in sharp disagreement over protecting the independence of the Bank of Italy, after senior politicians threatened to remove its leadership.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the Eurosceptic League Party, said the central bank and Consob, the country’s stock market regulator, should be “reduced to zero, more than changing one or two people” and that “fraudsters” who inflicted losses on Italian savers should “end up in prison for a long time."

Such language is rarely heard from politicians, and reminded some of the jail sentences and recriminations doled out to Bankers in Iceland after the financial crisis of 2008.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: "Stand Your Ground" Style Self-Defense Bill Passes Lower House

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The Chamber of Deputies, Italy's lower house of parliament, has voted in favor of a draft law on self-defense in the home.

The bill specifies that "defense is always legitimate" in a person's home. It aims to protect a person who acts in self-defense in response to a perceived threat from an intruder.

Under current legislation, a person who harms an intruder, even in cases of self-defense, can be held responsible for damages.

The bill is reminiscent of USA's "stand your ground" laws, which often allow a person to use lethal force to defend themselves against an intruder on their property.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: EU Report Set To Warn Of "Contagion" Because Of Italian Recession, Blames Budget

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Italy’s budget does not contain measures able to boost growth and makes Rome a “risk of contagion” for the rest of the eurozone, according to a European Commission document leaked to the media. The report, due to be approved this week, is quoted as saying the budget would have negative effects on economic growth throughout the EU trading bloc.

Italy entered a recession at the end of 2018 and the commission has predicted growth this year of just 0.2 per cent, down from an earlier 1.2 per cent forecast. Passage of the budget in Italy was delayed this year, as EU officials threatened to sanction Italy for its anti-austerity budgeting.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said it was too early to say if the government would have to introduce a corrective budget later this year since “the government budget’s measures need time to have (positive) effects on the economy.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Mayor Of Village Who Welcomed Illegal Immigrants Says Human Traffickers Are Also "Victims"

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The mayor of an Italian village known for openly welcoming illegal immigrants has sparked outrage by calling those who traffic in migrants "victims."

Domenico Lucano, mayor of Riace, said, "To alleviate the shameful media of its serious responsibilities, the Italian government said that the responsibility lies with the traffickers, but I say that they, too, are victims." His comment comes after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that he wants to stop the smuggling of immigrants at all costs by directly hitting those who work to make this flow possible: the traffickers of migrants.

This week, a judge said he cannot reside in his home town while he awaits trial. In October 2018, Italian police put Lucano under house arrest for allegedly helping illegal migrants to stay in the country by organizing "marriages of convenience." He has been suspended from office, as well.

[FULL STORY HERE, HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Deputy PM Salvini Holds Rone Rally Hailing 6 Months In Gov't

[world politics news]

Italy's Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, spoke to thousands of supporters in a packed square in Rome this past weekend as his surging League Party celebrated six months in power.

Organisers said around 80,000 people attended - many travelling from around the country - waving flags and banners with slogans such as "Italians first", "Italy raises its head" and "Six months of common sense government." He praised the "yellow vest" demonstrators in Paris.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Law Would Require Films On Netflix To Delay Theater Release By 105 Days To Protect Film Industry

[world politics news]

Italy's parliament is set to introduce legislation to require a "window" between the release of a streaming film in movie theaters in a bid to protect its film industry. The move comes after the simultaneous release of the film "Roma" at the Venice Film Festival, which was released at the same time as it streamed on the US-based streaming service Netflix.

The law would require a 105-day window between a film’s first theatrical screening and its availability on other platforms. Limited-release and under-performing titles would have shorter lag periods – as little as 10 days. The law will apply to Italian films only.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Gov't Defiant After European Commission Rejects Budget; EU Must "Treat Us With Respect" Says Dep. PM Salvini

[world politics news]

Italy's Euroskeptic government remains defiant after the European Commission rejected its proposed annual budget. Italy missed a deadline last week to reply to the Commission's objections to its budget, which increases borrowing and spending past the EU's limits.

The Commission, worried by the impact of high spending on Italy's high levels of debt, had told Rome to revise the budget or face possible fines. The warning to Italy, the eurozone's third-biggest economy, is an unprecedented move with regard to an European Union member state.

Populist Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini complained to reporters about the EU's actions, saying, "Seeing as we pay for our membership of this club we want this club to treat us with respect."

Pictured: Italy's co-Deputy Prime Ministers Luigi Di Maio (left) and Matteo Salvini.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.