Autonomy will not damage the South and will, if anything, put administrators before their "responsibilities", dividing "the capable and those who were not capable".
On the day in which Vincenzo De Luca brings the discontent of the mayors of Campania to Rome, Giorgia Meloni signs the cohesion pact with Calabria and goes on the attack on those who "do demonstrations" when it would be better for them to "get to work".
A clash that ends in insults, given that the governor does not fail to say "she's a bitch, she would work without money", after having tried in vain to gain a welcome at Raffaele Fitto's ministry and then at Palazzo Chigi.
Video Meloni to De Luca: 'Work instead of demonstrating'
"There was no one, everyone disappeared", complains De Luca after the procession - which was also attended by delegations of the first citizens of Calabria, Lucania and Puglia, according to former governor Mario Oliverio - there were moments of tension with the forces of the order while attempting to approach the seat of government.
To those in charge of managing public order who tell him in Via del Corso that "we can't go any further" De Luca shouts that "then" someone has to receive them "otherwise you have to charge us, is that clear? You have to kill us".
Video De Luca against Meloni: 'Apologize to the South, it trampled on us and offended us'
Scenes in which, the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi stigmatizes, "there was a lack of respect for men and women in uniform even on the part of those who, due to the role they hold, should instead represent their ideas in the name of maximum respect of institutions and rules".
But it is De Luca's words, pronounced in a semi-deserted transatlantic, that triggered the outburst of the Brothers of Italy, including ministers, in defense of the prime minister insulted by the "turpiloquy" of the governor, who gave a "squalid performance", "democracy has been mortified", "he should resign and go be a clown" and so on.
Video De Luca arrives at Fitto's ministry: 'Rabbits, let us open'
But the Melonians point the finger above all at the silence of the leaders of the Democratic Party (no comments from the Democrats, apart from a mild distancing from De Luca's "tones" by the head of the South Marco Sarracino).
Elly Schlein does not speak, although she was directly called into question by Meloni, who rejected the accusations of wanting to "divide Italy" and "abandon and betray the South" launched at the "patriots" by the secretary from the columns of Repubblica.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Meloni in Gioia Tauro for the cohesion agreement - News - Ansa.it Minister Fitto also present (ANSA)
A sign of distance after the closeness that was recorded at the beginning of the week on the motion for Gaza, while the contracts between the staff continue to materialize the expected duel between the two.
Surely before the level playing field kicks in, it remains to be seen whether before or after Easter.
First it's complicated, because we vote in Sardinia and Abruzzo and both fronts are involved in the electoral campaign.
Plus Meloni also has to manage the international agenda, which will see her preside over the first virtual G7 of the Italian presidency on 24 February on the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
And then in Canada, at the beginning of March.
Meanwhile, the battle is being held at a distance, on sensitive issues also from an electoral perspective.
Video De Luca goes to the Prefecture after the tensions at Palazzo Chigi
Autonomy "will strengthen the South", insists Gioia Tauro Meloni, who also defends the choice to move forward on the Messina Bridge - the workhorse of ally Matteo Salvini with whom in recent weeks more divisions than points have emerged common.
From the measures in favor of farmers ("we noticed the difficulties" well before "we saw the tractors in the square", repeats the prime minister) to the new skirmish over the third mandate which could lead to a domino effect, parliamentarians argue, new tensions on the premiership.
Today, however, the sparks are all with the opponents.
With those who "have been less capable" so far of managing cohesion funds and have not achieved "results".
And "it doesn't surprise me - says Meloni - that autonomy is particularly scary for those who have lower indicators".
Read Vincenzo De Luca.
Video Palazzo Chigi, De Luca tries to break through the police cordon
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