Capacchione, however, likes the document: “It’s a step in the right direction; it’s extremely useful. But the final version must be published as soon as possible.” The draft states that new beach concessions may last from 5 to 20 years, that tendering procedures must be launched by publishing a call for tenders at least six months before the expiry of the existing concessions and, in any case, by 30 June 2027, and also that the continuity of services must be guaranteed during the tendering process. Furthermore, the model tender document sets out compensation arrangements for outgoing concessionaires, alongside limits on the concentration of licences. “These are all the issues we’ve been fighting for,” exults the head of the beach resort association, who can count on a government well disposed to accommodate the sector’s demands. It is therefore a “good starting point”, but there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure its members accept it. “It is still incomplete. For example, certain types of concessions are missing. There is considerable discretion regarding the scoring system; greater clarity is needed on compensation to define the calculation of commercial value, but also on the eligibility criteria.” These issues, says Capacchione, stem largely from the current legislation (Article 1 of Law No. 166/2024 amending Articles 3 and 4 of Law No. 118/2022). Consequently, “the model tender notice is set within a legislative framework that remains unclear and fails to ensure either the orderly exercise of administrative functions or the correct application of the Bolkestein Directive, particularly in light of recent case law, which has highlighted the need for prior verification of the premise of resource scarcity, the validity of certain extensions to 2033, and also the possible ‘overriding reasons of general interest’ to protect companies currently operating”.

Hence the desire to be involved in drafting the final call for tenders. “I asked Giorgia Meloni to invite me to Palazzo Chigi to highlight these issues, but she has not yet replied.” Capacchione also sent a letter to the Prime Minister dated 27 September – World Tourism Day – emphasising that “the absence of a clear regulatory framework, which is leading to the current chaotic management of administrative functions in this area, poses a mortal risk to the future of Italian tourism”. A few days later, here is the draft tender designed, within the limits of his capabilities, precisely for this purpose. “There is a timing issue. The standard tender must be issued as soon as possible and be binding, just as is the case for other public administration contracts; otherwise, local authorities will continue to act in a disorganised manner with extremely broad discretion. The chaos is worse than the Bolkestein Directive. “Our battle,” says Capacchione, “is to demand the correct application of the Bolkestein Directive whilst seeking to safeguard those companies that have, up to now, always operated in compliance with the rules. The problem is not the tenders themselves, but when and whether to hold them. “The directive must be applied in accordance with the ruling of the European Court of Justice.” The Court, the president states, “has intervened on several occasions, stating that the obligation to hold a tender applies where there is a scarcity of resources. So we want to set out, on the basis of European case law, what the criteria are for determining when there is a scarcity of resources,” he says, addressing the Italian legislature. “Either the legislator takes action or we will end up in court, and the problem will be resolved in two, three or four years’ time. By which time we’ll all be dead, as Keynes used to say.” 

Years of fierce protests, clashes (both verbal and physical) and strikes now seem to have reached a point of no return. “The Bolkestein Directive exists; it must be implemented; we need to take a pragmatic approach. Let’s avoid ideological battles – they serve no purpose.” After all, he observes, “over the past twenty years, various governments of all political persuasions have done nothing but postpone the problem, without resolving it. And this government has done the same. The slogans ‘no to Bolkestein’ or ‘pro-Bolkestein’ solve nothing; they are simply propaganda. It is time for a definitive solution in everyone’s interest,” he concludes. “And the call for proposals is a step in the right direction, although there is still a great deal of work to be done.” 

During a panel discussion on ‘democratic security’, Gabrielle addressed the mayors directly: ‘Rather,’ said Gabrielli, ‘call them departments for City Care or City Maintenance. This is no joke, but especially today, when there is a strong demand for security from citizens due to an exaggerated perception of the problem, if we want to put the church back at the centre of the village, we must remember that responsibility for security lies primarily with the state, in the dual sense of those responsible for the issue itself, but also those responsible for the administration of justice and the enforcement of sentences.”

Gabrielli then recalls how: “The 2017 law established that the point where the responsibilities of the state and local authorities intersect is that of urban security, but even in that case,” he says, “I believe that it is the responsibility of local councils to ensure the usability of public spaces, to maintain them and to combat urban decay, not security in the strict sense.” According to the former Chief of Police, further confusion is caused by the ‘half-hearted reform’ of the local police currently being worked on by the Meloni government: “Quite apart from the fact that we have never seen a matter of concurrent jurisdiction regulated by a legislative decree, the serious issues concerning the local police have not been addressed in any case. ‘And do you know why?’ Gabrielli asks rhetorically. ‘Because to do so properly, one would have to seriously address how state forces are organised and what their responsibilities are; but since that is a hot-button issue, it is not being tackled.’

Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, however, were Prime Minister Meloni, the president of Confindustria Nautica, Formenti, and Regional Governor Marco Bucci. Sources at Palazzo Chigi have indicated that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “was surprised and disappointed to find, during the opening ceremony of the Genoa Boat Show, that Silvia Salis was not present on stage”. The Prime Minister is also said to have asked President Formenti why Salis was absent, learning at that moment that it had been a mistake on the part of the Boat Show organisers. Regional President Bucci also stated that he had known nothing of Salis’s exclusion from the stage: “It was a decision made by the Boat Show’s ceremonial organisers; as mayor, I have always taken to the stage.”

Meanwhile, PD Senator Filippo Sensi has come to Salis’s defence, writing on social media: “Leave them be if they don’t invite you onto their stage. It’s a slap in the face for Genoa, not for you. They’re afraid of a proper debate, you little pests.” Regional councillor and Democratic Party faction leader Andrea Orlando was also harsh: “We’ve reached a level of arrogance that borders on the ridiculous. It would be laughable if incidents like this weren’t yet another sign of institutional decline.”

“The Five Star Movement’s Roman councillor acted as our master of ceremonies,” Vladimiro Bibolotti, essayist, blogger for *Il Fatto Quotidiano* and, above all, president emeritus of the National UFO Centre, tells *Il Foglio*. “Diaco opened our meeting to a large audience.” Although, as Vladimiro goes on to explain, “you shouldn’t attribute the interest solely to the Movement, which has certainly shown itself to be keen”. We ask for further details… “The Five Star Movement,” says the ufologist, “are very interested in us, but the CUN is non-partisan.” So? “So I wouldn’t pin the blame solely on them, the poor things!” No? And who else would you blame? “Well, Vannacci’s deputy has also been coming to our conferences lately.” Perhaps Massimiliano Simoni? (Gasperini is too close to the Lefebvrians to be keen on aliens). “Mario Borghezio came.” He’s a friend of Lefebvre’s too, but perhaps more compatible with Mars. “Marco Rizzo came.” The cosmonaut Rizzo. “And then…”. It’s all building up… “Then even Musumeci is on our side.” Nello? “The minister, yes, who in the past tabled a parliamentary question on flying objects.” Really? “Yes. Musumeci. He’s open to UFOs.” And indeed, the minister is in charge of the Sea and Civil Protection. He is the man tasked, amongst other things, with flushing out Martians in Rome. The conference, however, organised by the Five Star Movement’s council group, retraced the history of ufology from the post-war period to the present day. Particular attention was paid to the Twining Memorandum and the Pentagon documents. The only things missing were Welles’ “The War of the Worlds” and the UFO that Venditti spotted at Villa Paganini when he was a child. In any case, Bibolotti says: “We don’t want to reduce the issue to a spectacle. We want democracies to be able to tackle intelligence dossiers without taboos.” Because, after all, the subject is serious. In fact, extremely serious. So serious that it deserves an audience worthy of the subject. “Andreotti used to pay attention to us,” the president reminds us; he is now, however, the focus of the Five Star Movement’s attention. “Leave them in peace, though. It’s not just them, and they don’t deserve it.” No, of course not. But the fact is that whilst Conte talks about foreign policy, they are pushing themselves even beyond the sky… Or perhaps they’re simply reverting to their old ways. The one involving Paola Taverna and chemtrails. The one involving the honourable Sibilia, sceptical of the moon landing. Or perhaps the honourable Basilio, who believed in mermaids. Bibolotti repeats: “We don’t want to convince anyone of the existence of extraterrestrials.” And thank goodness for that. Not least because when you were a ufologist, Mr President, they were already on Mars.

Already yesterday, MP Vittoria Baldino had paved the way for the ‘third man’ scenario, proposing Pier Luigi Bersani as the unifying figure for the broad coalition. Today Conte clarifies: ‘I do not rely on personal ambition’. But barring any change of heart, the die is cast and he himself warns: ‘The primaries are looming’. 

And so, the never-ending debate on the primaries continues. A debate that many have already deemed harmful to the coalition, even before the race has begun. “Divisive? That will depend on us,” Conte said during the event in the Senate. Tomorrow, Elly Schlein will chair the Democratic Party’s executive committee (the party assembly is on 18 October), and it will in all likelihood become clear whether the “party” will ultimately field just one candidate, Elly, or whether the reformist wing will put forward Giorgio Gori. “It is up to us to create a climate of harmony,” Conte added.

The ‘no’ to Bettini’s proposal on weapons for Kyiv for defensive purposes only

During the book launch, the former prime minister once again spoke about Ukraine, reiterating his party’s position. This time, however, his remarks were accompanied by a new element. The ‘no’ also applies to the proposal put forward by Goffredo Bettini, who has long been close to Conte and for whom he has the utmost respect (so much so that he asked Schlein for an ‘act of generosity’ and to leave the leadership of the broad coalition to him). In a letter to Corriere, Bettini had proposed continuing to supply weapons to Kyiv, even if only for defensive purposes. On this proposal, the former prime minister explains: “You cannot signal a change of course whilst continuing to send weapons as usual.” This position is also shared by the other wing of the broad coalition, the Green and Left Alliance.

The former prime minister then continues: “Bettini always deserves credit for setting out wide-ranging arguments that take historical reasons into account, and he never trivialises the Russian-Ukrainian conflict either. The band of eager volunteers wants to continue bearing arms and, if anything, rather cowardly, carry on waging a proxy war. We believe there needs to be a turning point.” He explains that, in his view, “even the public are calling for a shift towards negotiations in the conflict”. On this issue, Filippo Sensi of the PD commented on social media: “I read that our scholars, doctors and experts are racking their brains to find the most hypocritical formula possible to convince Vannacci’s closest allies on the issue of Ukraine. Call them Eugenio, we’ll give them to you.”

There were five texts in total; each group presented its own text, with the exception of Azione. Those registered to speak were Riccardo Magi (Più Europa), Gianni Cuperlo (PD), Alfonso Colucci (M5S), Devis Dori (AVS), Roberto Giachetti (IV), Igor Iezzi (Lega), Alessio D’Antonio (Azione), Andrea Gentile (Fi), Gianluca Vinci (Fdi), Alessandro Colucci (Nm) and Edoardo Ziello (FnV), for a total of one hour and twenty minutes of debate.

Yesterday, the ‘General in Reverse’ Futurists were back to taking a dig at the right: “We need an Italian ICE”. This is a long-standing passion of Vannacci’s – a Trump-style anti-migrant police force – which is now set to become a bill, as announced by Davide Bergamini. The MP spoke in the Chamber of Deputies during Question Time to press the minister on security and immigration, citing recent news stories from Reggio Emilia to Modena: crimes committed by ‘second-generation Italians’. More CPR centres are needed; remigration is a familiar script. But one that gained new momentum yesterday. Thus, according to Fn, more prevention is needed. They are calling on Piantedosi for “30,000” new recruits to the police force, more military personnel for the ‘Safe Roads’ programme, to whom they also wish to “assign judicial police functions”. And then, above all: “A police force dedicated to immigration and repatriation”, explains Bergamini. “A specialised unit”, rather than a new autonomous force. The draft bill will be tabled shortly, they promise. This is the first card that Vannacci’s supporters (who are always promising “new recruits imminent”) are playing after Calabria. It was supposed to be Saxony-Anhalt, but instead FN failed to make a breakthrough. The general had put his all into it, so in the end even that 10.9 per cent – no small feat and well above the percentages estimated by the polls – lent itself to various interpretations. Vannacci, who is now also squabbling with Aldo Cazzullo over Xmas, stands by it in any case; he takes issue with those who talk of a ‘flop’, with the newspapers and with the usual moderate centre-right. He keeps repeating that he is indispensable if the right is to win, and that he is waiting for Meloni to call. But what do those within the National Front – the very same people making conciliatory statements towards the government – actually think? “We won’t enter into an agreement, and that suits us just fine.” So it’s better to keep attacking, to keep them chasing after us.

At least until the right realises that every attempt to gain ground is met with an even bigger outburst. Meanwhile, in response to the Vannacci supporters – aided, moreover, by questions from FdI and Noi Moderati – Piantedosi cited the figures on repatriations (“6,500 this year, never such a high number”) and landings (“down 80 per cent” over two years). He then announced that he is working to open six new CPRs: in Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige (2) and Tuscany, with the left already vowing to put up a fight. The reaction from the majority, however, was different; following the Education Decree, they have new cards to play on the issue of immigration. “Left-wing governors, such as Giani in Tuscany, will not stop the government,” attacks Meloni’s ally, Colonel Giovanni Donzelli. Matteo Salvini also weighs in: “Full steam ahead without hesitation.” Against the broad coalition, certainly. But also, and even more so, to try to take the wind out of Vannacci’s sails. Following the by-elections in Reggio Calabria, the ruling coalition breathed a sigh of relief. But fears remain. So, in the evening, another decision was announced: the Interior Ministry stated that the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain remains in force for a further two weeks: “Possible terrorist threats”.

Renzi says that “only the left can lose the next election, and that those who fail to reach an agreement will bear a responsibility before history”. There is a small story that recounts what Schlein believes to be a great one, describing this party with its unique past, which invented the role of the independent MP. It was Enrico Berlinguer – that angular, tenacious face that Schlein has imprinted on the PD membership card – who championed ‘the independent’, the man and woman who are close yet distant by design. They were, and are, cultural figures, economists, lawyers, singers, film directors and, of course, writers and painters whom the Italian Communist Party (PCI), but also the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) and the Radical Party, put forward on their electoral lists. To name but a few: Stefano Rodotà, Giorgio Ruffolo, Natalia Ginzburg, Gino Paoli, Eduardo De Filippo and Altiero Spinelli.

Among the most famous radicals: Enzo Tortora, Leonardo Sciascia. The independent left-winger is an unconventional figure who brings prestige and distinction to the party. Schlein has, quite rightly, revived and revitalised the role of the independent MP. In the last European elections, she chose to field, amongst others, Marco Tarquinio, Cecilia Strada and, in the south, Lucia Annunziata. The ballot box proved her right. Schlein expanded her support to 24 per cent (a brief aside on the polls: in those elections, the M5S, which had been predicted to reach 15 per cent, ended up at 10 per cent) thanks in part to these figures. Annunziata had made it clear that she would not join the PD, but as a Member of the European Parliament she pays her dues both in Europe and at home. There is no need to reiterate who Annunziata is: former director of TG3, president of RAI, a ‘abbess’ who has made the headlines. She was chosen for the European Parliament on the strength of her expertise and is responsible for foreign affairs and defence – the very issues on which the PD and the M5S are at odds.

Annunziata has just one flaw. She doesn’t need to blow her own trumpet for the secretary’s post, nor does she have to beg for interviews. Over recent months, she has been working on dossiers concerning China – dossiers that the PD has allowed to slip away, in silence. In a few months’ time, European posts will be up for re-election, and amongst these is the vice-presidency held by Pina Picierno (who has left the PD); the serious danger is that the PD’s jubilant primary election machine will be scaled back in Brussels too. In European politics, the Spanish delegation is manoeuvring to seek compromises with the European People’s Party, whilst the Italian delegation is thinking about how to return to Italy. Some see themselves as ministers, others as challengers to Schlein. Being independent already means being an outsider, but being an outsider does not mean being unwanted. The PD uses the ‘independent’ status as a pretext to marginalise Annunziata. Her work ends up on desks and is only opened months later. The objection is simple: why doesn’t she join the party, why doesn’t she get a membership card? The answer is just as straightforward: she had agreed with Schlein on ‘independence’ – that special quality that brings constructive criticism and a dissenting voice.

Today, Annunziata is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a member of the Delegation for Relations with Israel, and a member of the Committee on Security and Defence. She travels the world, not least because it would be interesting to know how many other MEPs from the PD are able – and willing – to take part in this work. In good families, they say: ‘Lucia, this is your home.’ This does not apply to Annunziata. To take part in party events, she must be formally invited; otherwise, she is excluded. But is Annunziata not the delegate responsible for the crucial issues of our times? Annunziata has informed her group that if her voice is not needed, she might as well remain a backbencher. If one were to resort to the bureaucracy—which Schlein has taken a liking to of late—it would end up like this: Annunziata would receive her full salary, whilst the PD would lose yet another voice, a source of expertise, and even her seat. In recent months, no fewer than four women have left the PD. Annunziata’s case is even more exceptional. She would be the first to walk away from this illusion. The illusion that there was room and respect for independence within the PD.

At present, voting is conducted by a show of hands (the delegates are all Salvini supporters), but some wonder whether, in the secrecy of the ballot box, the outcome might differ when Salvini is not looking. Romeo asks: are we sure we can request a secret ballot? Are we sure the rules permit it? In Bossi’s day, party congresses were mass rallies and fistfights at the PalaTrussardi with all the party activists. To give Salvinov—the secretary who dreams of the Duma—his due, here are the words he shared yesterday in the Veneto region: “If anyone doesn’t take part, they’re making a mistake, because it will be a time for proposals and debate.” He’s right about one thing: Salvini does engage in debate. With Verdini.

There is much more to Eni’s outstretched hand towards the government and the country. The oil company’s decision is interpreted by Meloni and her party as the “result of a strong, authoritative and respected government”. And a respected government is also a feared government. A change is expected at Eni by the first half of October, heralding a new balance of power. Pistelli, who is held in high regard by the Quirinale, is moving on to take up a new role that has been tailor-made for him: the head of critical raw materials. His previous post has not yet been filled. It could be split between Claudio Granata (Director of Stakeholder Relations & Services) and Stefano Meloni (Director of Institutional Affairs for Italy). The international aspect, on the other hand, could be entrusted to a seconded diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as has happened in the past with Pasquale Salzano (now ambassador to Morocco) or Luca Giansanti (who managed relations with the EU). Energy is now (and this remains FdI’s key message) “the objective achieved, unlike the left-wing weak governments”. Yesterday, Meloni tried to persuade the Libyan government (Tamoil) to join the call for a price cap. On 24 October, the Prime Minister has not ruled out attending the EU–Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh (all European leaders will be present). Even successes such as Eni now bear Meloni’s mark.

Which ones? “Firstly,” replies Rocca, “it is essential that part of the resources be allocated to strengthening human capital. These are funds we need to increase the salaries of nurses, A&E doctors and pathologists. Within three years, we must bring them up to European standards: these are essential professionals who ensure people’s lives are saved. Without emergency doctors and without a pathologist who can analyse a slide and make a diagnosis,” the president emphasises, “things will go badly.”

The regions’ other request is to increase the unearmarked funding allocated to them. “We are asking for this,” explains Rocca, “because every region has its own needs and priorities. Here in Lazio, we would like to use these funds to strengthen local healthcare services, providing better care for the chronically ill and improving mental health services. Furthermore, we would like to make further progress in reducing waiting lists through a recruitment plan that has already enabled us to increase the healthcare workforce by 5,000 staff members, to which a further 5,000 will be added by the end of 2027. This is another reason why the rules must change and be based on the provision of essential levels of care: if I receive one billion for recruitment, I must be able to decide how to spend it according to our priorities.”

Meanwhile, Lazio has opened 135 community care homes funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and set up to reduce pressure on A&E departments. But is there enough staff to make them work properly? “We are the leading region in Italy in terms of compliance with the PNRR,” replies the president. “We are recruiting staff largely for this purpose. General practitioners, with whom we have signed a supplementary agreement, are also getting involved.”

Whilst the decisive blow regarding the party’s vulnerability to the ‘deserters’ (copyright Tajani) is, in short, slow in coming, this axis stretching from Calabria up to Piedmont, with its sights set on Milan, is at least attempting to carve out a place for itself on the party’s economic agenda. Perhaps in the hope that these battles might form the basis for a motion at the party conference. Perhaps immediately after the general election.

At this stage, having taken note of the regional judges’ ruling, the shipowners may decide to up the ante and appeal the Regional Administrative Court’s judgement to the Council of State, but this is a delicate decision that will be taken at a later date. The tax on cruise passengers is a key issue on which Salis has staked his entire political capital; indeed, he had, in turn, lodged a complaint with the Court of Auditors and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to find out why the previous centre-right council (under Mayor Bucci) had not applied the tax, despite having agreed it with the state. Bucci’s decision is said to have cost the council a shortfall in revenue of 17 million. That is no small sum.

The tax applies to those boarding a cruise ship or a ferry operating a commercial service; it does not, however, apply to those arriving in Genoa or those merely passing through. The expected annual revenue is 5.7 million, which is intended to offset the costs generated by the impact of tourists and to provide some breathing space for routine expenditure on maintenance and transport. In short, it is a lifeline for the Salis council, just as it would be for any other municipal administration in a major city (the mayor of Venice, Venturini, wants to raise the entry fee to 30 euros). The companies most affected are those that account for the bulk of cruise traffic, namely Aponte’s MSC and Costa Cruises. The Regional Administrative Court’s ruling, as was to be expected, has sparked a political skirmish in which the PD has accused former mayor Bucci of making self-defeating decisions and of endorsing the Port Authority’s decision to take legal action against the municipality. The controversy is set to continue, as the centre-right is now challenging Salis over the methods for collecting the tax, which have yet to be implemented. ‘We’ll see how much he manages to collect,’ they whisper.

The victory over the Genoese shipowners heartens and encourages Silvia Salis, who is still awaiting the much-heralded publication of her book (entitled “E’ già domani”, with a cover that is not exactly understated) and the planned tour “to all Feltrinelli bookshops across Italy”. The first event is already scheduled on home turf, in Genoa, for 14 October, and observers note that this will serve as a trial run to gauge her popularity and appeal to the general public – not just those in Genoa. Meanwhile, another high-profile figure is expected in the city today: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is due to open the Boat Show and will have to take great care to avoid touching on the sore point (for her political camp) of the Regional Administrative Court’s ruling. Since her election in May 2025, this is not the first time that Mayor Salis has come into more or less explicit conflict with the city’s powers that be. Right from the outset, she challenged the management of the port system and the major infrastructure inherited from previous administrations; subsequently, she filed the 17-million-euro complaint with the Court of Auditors that we mentioned earlier. The third instance arose from the decision to introduce a minimum wage in municipal contracts, a move harshly criticised by trade associations accustomed to borderline practices. Not content with all this, the mayor has taken a public stand against the transit through the port of Genoa of arms shipments bound for war zones (primarily the Middle East and Israel), coming into conflict with the major international logistics companies. To round off this overview, many in Genoa argue that Salis’s decision to focus on large-scale open-air events aimed at a young audience has not gone down well at all with the city’s more traditionalist middle classes.

The Protomoteca was made available for the award ceremony – the same hall where Emma Bonino’s funeral took place. The award, conceived by the publisher Alessandro Gian Maria Ferri and the entrepreneur Silvestro Muccillo, was a private initiative, and access to the Campidoglio was arranged by Dario Nanni, a councillor for the Mixed Group, who later stated that he had not been informed of the winners’ names.

In any case, the involvement of a councillor is not required for the application. It may be submitted directly by non-profit organisations, voluntary organisations, political parties, trade unions, professional bodies or groups of at least fifty citizens. Nanni maintains that going via a councillor is a common practice, used by both the majority and the opposition. His signature would not, in any case, have made the Award a municipal event.

Requests for one of the three rooms must be submitted to the Cabinet’s Internal Ceremonial Office at least thirty days before the event and no more than six months in advance. The application must be accompanied by the liability form, the content report, the list of speakers and participants, the programme, the draft invitation, details of any staging requirements and the document identifying the person responsible. The application is then forwarded to the Head of the Cabinet, who is responsible for granting formal authorisation.

As a rule, the licence is subject to a fee, with rates set annually by the local council. Exemption from the fee is an exception that the mayor may grant for events of particular social or cultural value, organised by non-profit organisations. In the case of the Marchi and Nobile Prize, it therefore remains to be ascertained whether a fee was charged or an exemption granted, and on what legal basis.

The stated rationale is that of a public initiative, not the hire of a venue. The regulations prohibit performances, commercial activities and profit-making initiatives, as well as petitions, fund-raising and the sale of goods, books or services. They also provide for the refusal of events that are manifestly incompatible with constitutional principles or capable of turning public halls into venues for ideological polarisation.

One’s thoughts immediately turn to Montecitorio, the home of far-fetched initiatives. In July, the Democratic Party group proposed amending the regulations governing the use of the press room and other conference facilities, introducing a requirement for the MP proposing the initiative and for those involved to sign a declaration of commitment to upholding the Constitution.

The reason was the granting – subsequently revoked – of the press room to CasaPound for the launch of a petition calling for legislation to curb immigration. In that instance, the intermediary was MP Domenico Forgiuele, a former member of the Lega who had joined Futuro Nazionale. In the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, parliamentary mediation is in fact mandatory. An organisation or private individual cannot make a booking themselves, but must approach a Member of Parliament or a Senator to submit the request.

Although the PD’s proposal has not formally come into effect, the Chamber of Deputies has nevertheless issued a statement clarifying that the MP who tabled the proposal remains responsible for the initiative.

Over the years, with the exception of fascists, Montecitorio has seen a bit of everything, given that every MP can offer their constituents and allied organisations a few hours’ access to the building.

The presentation of “Mino cane fortunato”, organised by Martina Semenzato of Noi Moderati, was unforgettable, with Mino in attendance – who was even lifted onto the speakers’ table at one point. However, the quintessential four-legged (institutional) event took place at the Campidoglio. It was the Penna d’Oca awards, once again held in the Sala della Protomoteca, with prizes for animal lovers. Among the winners were Enzo Salvi, the street artist Moby Dick, and the influencers Joy Barboncino Toy and Marley SuperCane. In 2025 alone, the Protomoteca also hosted the ‘Antenna d’Oro’ for television, the ‘Microfono d’Oro’ for radio and the ‘Parola d’Oro’ for courteous communication. 

There is also a whole ‘scientific’ strand, almost always devoted to vaccines. In 2017, MP Adriano Zaccagnini, then a member of the newly formed Mdp, organised a conference billed as ‘L’altra verità sui vaccini’, later renamed ‘Libertà di scelta per vaccinarsi in sicurezza’. In 2019, it was Sara Cunial who brought the anti-vaccine association Corvelva to the Chamber of Deputies. The following year, she returned to the press room with a conference on the consequences of mass vaccinations. As for bioethics, in January 2024, League MP Simone Billi endorsed a meeting organised by the Machiavelli Study Centre on abortion and euthanasia, after which he distanced himself from the speakers’ arguments. In the Senate, in 2016, former Five Star Movement member Bartolomeo Pepe had secured a room to screen Vaxxed, Andrew Wakefield’s anti-vaccination documentary, but the booking was subsequently cancelled.

The Pergola White Truffle Fair and the Rieti World Chilli Fair were also presented in the Chamber of Deputies’ press room. Not to mention the gathering of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill fans or the book that reinterpreted Napoleon and Montesquieu through astrological alignments.

Space is also given to motorbikes. In February 2025, Giandonato La Salandra, of Fratelli d’Italia, tabled a bill on ‘motorbike culture’ and the subsequent parliamentary cross-party group for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.

Things weren’t much better in the Senate. One need only mention the meeting organised in October 2025 by Gian Marco Centinaio on the so-called Majorana machine, a device potentially capable of annihilating matter, producing inexhaustible energy, transforming matter into gold and rejuvenating.

Given what’s happening elsewhere, things haven’t gone all that badly at the Campidoglio. 

Just a few days ago, Senator for Life Liliana Segre had called for unity and for common ground to be found. By around mid-October, the bill – which has already been approved by the Senate – is expected to be put to a vote in the Chamber.