Meloni: "We are the strongest government in Europe. In 2026, we will focus on security and growth. We don't always agree with Mattarella."

I think that when children are taken from their parents, we should be certain that those children are better off than they were with their parents. These should be very extreme cases, because if the issue becomes moral or ideological, we have a problem: someone needs to explain to me why children can't be raised in the woods, but instead in a Roma camp or begging. Our legal system works to help families in difficulty, not to add to the trauma of separation. I asked Nordio for a comprehensive picture of how many cases of minors have been taken from their families. The incredible thing is that there's no monitoring. We have a government-initiated bill that also establishes a register of abducted minors, also at the Prime Minister's Office, so we can determine whether it's time to intervene. I don't rule out the possibility of further legislative interventions in the future.

"Excellent relations with Mattarella"

My relationship with the Quirinale, and especially with the President of the Republic, is excellent. I often read accounts of tension, conflict, and difficulty. The President of the Republic and I don't always agree, of course—he himself stated as much—but there's one thing that makes all the difference for me: the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, is there when it comes to defending Italy's national interests. This is worth everything to me, because being able to count on a head of state who, especially in relations with foreign countries, helps strengthen Italy's role and defend the national interest, makes all the difference.

"I will do my best to make it to the end of the legislature."

I believe that the stability of both this government and Italy at this time is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving many other goals, and I will do my best to ensure that stability until the end of the legislative session. Obviously, as long as I have a solid majority supporting me. However, my main goal is to end this legislative session as I began it. I do not intend to resign if the Italians reject the justice reform in a referendum.

End of Life: "It is the State's duty not to promote assisted suicide."

I believe the state's role isn't to promote suicide options, but rather to minimize the loneliness and hardship experienced by those with serious illnesses and their families. This is what the government is doing by increasing funding for palliative care and home care, and it's what the government is doing with the upcoming bill on family caregivers. I think our role is to combat the loneliness and abandonment that make assisted suicide seem like an option. We'll defer to Parliament for decisions.

"Me at the Colle? I don't want to move up a level, my own is enough for me."

"I don't know why he never suggests I work with Fiorello for money, which is something I'd like to do. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said so at her end-of-year press conference, when asked about her future at the Quirinal Palace. "It's enough for me, and I'm passionate about what I'm doing. Whether I'll do it again in the next legislature will depend on the Italians' vote." Meloni explained that she has no ambition to move up the ranks. "I'm satisfied with my own level."

"Immigration, Italy has made a difference in Europe. The automotive sector is a problem stemming from EU decisions I challenged. Review the Green Deal."

"The immigration issue is where Italy has made a real difference. I don't think anyone is unaware that Europe's stance has been completely reversed over the past three years: at my first European Council on immigration, it wasn't even discussed, and instead we talked about redistributing illegal migrants, who were impossible to stop. Today, reading the documents the EU produces on this issue, they talk about the external dimension, border protection, and more effective repatriation rules. So now the issue is no longer distributing migrants, but managing migration policy and stopping it, including by working with transit and origin countries."

Speaking of areas requiring improvement, the prime minister cited the Green Deal, where "we've achieved significant results, but I hope we can do more by continuing to favor a more pragmatic, less ideological approach. The automotive sector's problems are the result of decisions I've challenged, particularly at the European level, which I'm working to correct, and which are now beginning to be corrected. If it had been up to us, that problem would have been mitigated."

"International law must be defended, I disagree with Trump."

"There are many things I disagree with about Trump. I've said it, and I repeat it. For example, I think that the issue of international law is something that needs to be fully defended. I think that when the rules of international law are violated, we are all clearly much more exposed, and so yes, when I disagree, I say so, but I say it to him. I agreed with Trump on Venezuela, but I didn't agree on Greenland. It's called defending one's national interest, because the interests of nations don't always perfectly overlap. That's foreign policy, that's geopolitics. Everything else is good for gossip, but politics, in my opinion, isn't gossip."

However, Meloni emphasizes, "we need to strengthen our Atlantic membership. What would the alternative be? What does distancing ourselves mean: attacking McDonald's, leaving NATO, closing American bases?"

"I don't see any risks for the government; we are the most solid in Europe."

"I don't see any risks for the majority supporting my government. I've been hearing for three years that the majority is at risk, but after three years in government, we are perhaps the most solid government among the major European democracies, among the major European countries. We are the most solid government because we have the most solid majority."

"Work, government measures impact net wages"

On the topic of wages, when ISTAT provides us with historical wage data, it's the gross amount that's calculated, but most of the measures we've implemented in recent years affect net pay. Furthermore, let's also remember that the issue of wages, wage erosion, is an extremely important but also very long-standing one in Italy. In previous decades, we've witnessed a progressive erosion of Italian wages, and those wages have started to grow again faster than inflation under this government. And especially in October 2023.

"Crans-Montana is not a disaster, we are relentless about responsibilities."

What happened in Crans-Montana isn't a disaster, it's the result of too many people who didn't do their job or who thought they were making easy money. Responsibilities must be identified and prosecuted. I read that there are videos of the club manager running away with the cash register, and if that's true, I think we need to be relentless.

She continues: "When the first videos came out, I was really shocked by the fact that some of these kids stayed inside the club when the flames were already burning, and I didn't understand why. The smartest thing was one of the mothers who said it: the music kept going, and since the kids were very young, their danger threshold was lower than ours, it didn't help: why wasn't the music stopped? Why wasn't the kids told to leave? Why didn't the mayor carry out checks? There are too many reasons that led to the tragedy."

Venezuela: The Left Is Always on the Wrong Side of History

While hoping the situation will improve with Rodriguez, those in the streets mobilizing against US intervention in Venezuela pretend not to see the plight of the Venezuelan people. The union protests in particular surprised me, given that, among other things, there's widespread poverty in Venezuela. I'm amazed—or rather, no longer amazed—by the world in which the left has always lived, a world in which reality bends to ideology. Seeing far-left Italians explaining to exiles what it means to be Venezuelan is surreal. The best response came from Venezuelans, who filled social media with joy and hope for the future. That interests me. The judgment of a left that always stands on the wrong side of history doesn't interest me.

"ZES: The Model to Promote Investment Throughout the Region"

"If you ask me what I consider the best model for supporting investments, I'd say it's a single Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Southern Italy, across the entire country."

"Housing Plan. 100,000 affordable housing units over the next 10 years."

"With the Housing Plan, our goal is to implement a project that can provide 100,000 new apartments and houses at reasonably affordable prices over the next ten years, net of social housing."

«Growth is another major focus for 2026, along with security»

"Growth is my other major focus this year, along with security. To assess the state of the real economy, the most significant data is employment, which is showing encouraging results, as is purchasing power. I'd also like to point out that growth estimates for 2023 have been revised from 0.7% to 1%: I think this could also happen for 2024 and 2025. What needs to be done? In my opinion, three things: continue to support employment, work to lower energy prices, and support investment."

Again: "The government is working to lower energy prices, another measure I aim to introduce at one of the next Council of Ministers."

"If the opposition closes down in Parliament, a majority electoral law will be passed."

There are discussions with the opposition regarding electoral law reform, though not necessarily at my level. Parliament is dealing with it, and I hope for a positive dialogue and that there are no prejudicial closures. But if there is closure, Parliament will decide by majority vote.

"Everyone should have an interest in an electoral law that provides stability."

The issue isn't just passing a law that obviously guarantees respect for the popular vote, it's also passing a law that guarantees stability for whoever wins the election. This isn't just my problem; in fact, it could be a much more significant problem for the opposition, so I believe everyone should have a vested interest in passing a law like this. And I hope there can be a positive dialogue from this perspective, and that there are no prejudicial closures.

Ukraine, a dig at Vannacci

I listen to all the assessments coming from the majority. I also read of someone who said they hoped the Ukraine bill wouldn't get the votes. I don't think it will, and as I said, we would consider it a mistake. I'm particularly surprised that this suggestion comes from a general. Soldiers are the ones who understand how crucial the armed forces are to building peace, not waging war.

"Macron is right, it's time for the EU to talk to Russia."

Salvini reflected on Russia's relations with Italy, just as Macron did on Europe. In this case, I think Macron is right; I believe it's time for the EU to talk to Russia, too.

He continued: "If Europe decides to talk to only one of the two sides, I fear its contribution will be limited. The question is who should do it. If we were to make the mistake of reopening talks with Russia and proceeding in a scattered manner, we would be doing Putin a favor. The last thing I want to do in life is a favor to Putin. I support appointing an EU special envoy for Ukraine."

"I confirm the referendum date for March 22-23."

Referendum on justice reform: "By law, we must set a date by January 17th. The next Council of Ministers will do so. March 22nd and 23rd is the most likely date, and I would be comfortable confirming it."

"Often robes undermine the work of law enforcement and Parliament."

If we want to ensure safety, we all need to work in the same direction: the government, the police, and the judiciary, which is fundamental to this plan. I'll cite two or three cases from recent news reports. Aside from the train conductor, I recall the case of the imam in Turin. The police demonstrated his dangerousness, the minister ordered his expulsion, and the expulsion was blocked. Last November, a mother killed her nine-year-old son. She had been repeatedly reported for previous attempted murder, but the judicial authorities decided to let her go free. In Acerra, a person was arrested while dumping tons of harmful waste, but was released by the judicial authorities. I can cite dozens of cases. When this happens, the work of the police and Parliament is in vain. A call for everyone to work in the same direction can make a difference.

"Insufficient safety results, a change of pace in 2026."

"We've worked hard on safety, but clearly the years of laxity aren't easy to undo. The results aren't enough for me, so this is the year to change pace and do even more."

"We've launched a wealth of initiatives," Meloni recalled. "30,000 new law enforcement officers were hired, investments that had been stalled for a long time were unblocked, the security decree was hotly contested by the opposition, which now demands security, the fight against the mafia, with 120 fugitives captured, and the work done on Caivano."

"Among the measures we're considering is one on baby gangs," Meloni added, adding that "some of these measures are starting to show results: in the first 10 months of 2025, crime rates have dropped by 3.5%."

"I don't rule out Italy having a multinational force in Gaza, it's different from Ukraine."

I confirm that I have not ruled out the possibility of Italian participation in a potential multinational force. Unlike what I said about Ukraine, in this case we can truly make a big difference. Clearly, it will depend on security conditions and what Parliament says. I believe that Italy should objectively not rule out any possibility of participating in this framework, clearly with the goal, which remains the same for us, of building the two-state vision.

"I think that to avoid war we must stand with Kiev."

There's a majority of Italian opinion that thinks it's easier to defend national interests by retreating in Ukraine. I think that to avert war, we need to stand by Ukraine, and the only way to achieve peace is deterrence. The word "deterrence" comes from Latin; its concept is that you have to be strong enough to deter the enemy from attacking you. It's strength that builds peace. This is my interpretation. I think anyone who has a different proposal than mine is entitled to it, without claiming it's anything but a good idea.

"Salvini pro-Putin? I disagree."

I disagree with Salvini's reference to a 'pro-Putin' veto; I consider this interpretation biased. I've said on several occasions that debates within the majority, particularly on this issue of Russia and Ukraine, aren't conducted between 'pro-Russians' and 'pro-Ukrainians,' 'pro-Americans,' or I'm not sure what. I've always thought that puppets have the strings, and politicians don't, so basically, if they're serious, they shouldn't be pro-anything.

Ukraine: "There is no option today to send troops to the field under the UN umbrella."

There's no option on the ground today under the umbrella of the United Nations, and what's being discussed is a multinational force within the coalition of the willing to strengthen Ukraine's defense. The reason I don't think sending soldiers is necessary is because the main instrument for peacekeeping is NATO's Article 5; that's the main form of guarantee for Ukraine. Sending soldiers might be an idea, and I don't question those who want to do it, but I don't consider it necessary. I thought Parliament was almost unanimous on this, but now I read that someone in the Democratic Party has changed their minds. If that's the case, they'll formalize a proposal in Parliament.

"Italy will present its own strategy for the Arctic"

By the end of this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present an Italian strategy for the Arctic. We are doing our part. Europe must certainly continue to work within NATO for a greater NATO presence in the Arctic. This is what is written in the statement by the main European leaders, and it is also written in NATO documents.

Greenland: "I don't believe in US military intervention; it wouldn't benefit anyone."

I still don't believe in the possibility of the United States taking military action to take control of Greenland, an option I clearly disagree with—I've already made it clear—but I believe it wouldn't be in anyone's interest, not even the United States of America. It must also be said that Marco Rubio has ruled out the possibility of intervention to take control of Greenland.

"I think the Trump administration, with its somewhat assertive, very assertive methods, is primarily drawing attention to the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic region in general for its security interests. It's an area where, as we know, many foreign actors operate, and I continue to believe that the message the US wants to send is that it will not accept excessive interference from other foreign actors in an area so strategic to its security and interests."

"We'll take care of Trentini until he's reunited with his mother."

The Italian government has been dealing with the Trentini case on a daily basis for 400 days, and as we know, it is not the only one. We have done so and continue to do so, mobilizing all channels—political, diplomatic, and intelligence—and we will not stop until Mrs. Armanda can hug her son again. It is deeply painful that we cannot provide answers in the timeframe I would like.

"I welcome the release of the other Italians with joy. I am confident. I want to say that the Venezuelan president has sent a signal of pacification, and we are embracing it. I also think it could represent a very important element in the relationship between Italy and Venezuela," Meloni added.

"The conference is now at the beginning of the year, we have a new tradition"

"I thank Bartoli, President of the Order of Journalists, and Signore, President of the Parliamentary Press, for organizing this press conference, which has now become a start-of-the-year event. Together, we have created a new tradition." Thus Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni opened what had been the traditional end-of-the-year press conference.