I don't feel under siege, am not blackmailable says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 4 - Premier Giorgia Meloni denies feelingunder siege from her political enemies and insists that she isnot blackmailable in the latest book by journalist Bruno Vespa,out on Wednesday.
   "I do not feel the dimension of siege at all. It is the storythat is told about me," Meloni, Italy's first female primeminister and leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI)party, tells Vespa in Il rancore e la speranza (The resentmentand the hope) published by Mondadori-Rai Libri.
   "I am aware that there are enemies who are prepared to doanything to bring me down. But they don't scare me," shecontinues.
   "As I said at the beginning of my term (in office), I am notblackmailable. But I understand that for some power groups thathave controlled Italy for a long time this is a problem," sheadds.
   "What amazes me is the total invention of quarrels with mygovernment allies. I have read quotations of mine in which Iinsult Salvini that were not only never uttered, but not eventhought of," says Meloni of her deputy and transport ministerand leader of the right-wing League, a minor partner in herright-centre government coalition.
   "When I read press reviews with Matteo and Antonio Tajani, I amastonished. I understand that some newspapers want to send ushome: this is legitimate, of course. What is not acceptable andis alien to any professional ethics is putting things that werenever said or thought in inverted commas," she insists,describing her enemies as "incurable misogynists".
   "They try to accredit the thesis that a woman cannot withstandpressure. Like those lawmakers who, until just a few decadesago, believed that women couldn't be magistrates because whenthey have their period they don't think straight".
   In the book Meloni also rules out the possibility of a cabinetreshuffle.
   "I want to break another record: to finish the parliamentaryterm with the same government I started with," she says.
   "It would be the first time in the history of the ItalianRepublic. (The late Silvio) Berlusconi was at Palazzo Chigi forfive years, but with two different governments. Realising avision takes time. And I am proud to have the time that isneeded," concludes Meloni. (ANSA).