Culture Decree, the Almasri case and US duties: Italian policy nodes
It has been a busy week at Montecitorio, starting with the joint briefing by Ministers Nordio and Piantedosi on the Almasri case, which has ignited heated debate in Parliament. The Almasri case, involving alleged interferences in security systems and public order management, has sparked significant controversy. Nordio emphasized the regularity of procedures, stating that everything was in “full regulatory compliance,” while Piantedosi insisted on the need to protect law enforcement operations in an increasingly tense social climate. However, the opposition, led by the Democratic Party (PD) and M5S, has not let go. They continue to push allegations of improper use of surveillance and control tools, reinforcing the need for a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on possible privacy violations and abuses of power. Some members of the majority, particularly from the Lega, have expressed concerns about the potential political repercussions of this case, fearing that public opinion may perceive it as an attack on fundamental citizens’ rights. So, where do things stand? For now, the controversy lingers, with promises of further investigations in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Deputies has approved the Culture Decree, one of the key legislative measures in recent weeks. However, the most heated debate arose over an amendment proposed by the League, with deputy Gianangelo Bof as the lead signatory. The amendment aimed to reduce the power of the Superintendencies, making their opinions no longer binding, except in cases involving major monuments or historically significant assets. The idea was to streamline bureaucracy and give more autonomy to local authorities, but the Ministry of Culture did not approve the proposal. The amendment raised concerns among opposition parties and even some government allies. After intense negotiations, Lega withdrew the amendment, but discontent within the party remains. Determined not to abandon the issue, the party has announced that it will reintroduce the measure as an independent bill, convinced that bureaucratic simplification is essential for Italy’s economic development.
On the economic front, the potential new trade tariffs imposed by the United States on European products could have dramatic consequences for Italy. President Donald Trump has strongly reiterated his plan to introduce punitive tariffs of 20% on goods imported from Europe, directly impacting Italian exports to the U.S. According to an analysis by Svimez, this measure could result in an overall loss of €3.8 billion in GDP, with an estimated reduction in exports of €5.8 billion. The hardest-hit regions would be in southern Italy, where key industries such as automotive, agri-food, and pharmaceuticals rely heavily on the U.S. market. The South could see export contractions of around €800 million, while the Center-North would face a total decrease of nearly €5 billion.
However, the most critical issue concerns employment: it is estimated that these tariffs could impact 53,600 jobs, with the most severe effects in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
The Italian government is working to mitigate the impact, engaging in intense diplomatic efforts to persuade Washington to adopt a softer approach. However, negotiations are expected to be tough, particularly given that Trump might use tariffs as a bargaining tool to extract concessions from the European Union, such as greater access to the European energy market for U.S. gas and oil.
