Giorgia Meloni 's New Year's press conference organized by the National Council of the Order of Journalists and the Parliamentary Press Association.

A passage on the release of Cecilia Sala is inevitable: «There was a diplomatic triangulation effort with Iran and the US, I wouldn't say there was a turning point because the issue was followed from the beginning . The discussions with Iran are of a diplomatic and intelligence nature, the government is bound to confidentiality in these cases. Let's remember that there are 500 other Italians in Iran and we must be very cautious».

Yesterday, he added, "was a beautiful day for all of Italy and for me. I will make a confession to you, among the many things that happen when you hold a complex position like mine, I can tell you that I have not felt a greater emotion in these years than when I told Cecilia's mother that her daughter was coming home ."

On the Abedini case: «It is being examined by the Ministry of Justice, there is a technical and political examination, and according to the treaty with the United States . It is an issue that must continue to be discussed with American friends: I would have liked to speak about it with Biden, who had to cancel his trip and to whom we send our solidarity. There are and will be discussions: the still complex work was not finished yesterday and I think it must be discussed in detail in the appropriate places».

The agreement with SpaceX? "Fake news, there have been discussions but there is no agreement . I am quite struck by how some false news bounces around and continues to be discussed even after being denied. Using the public to do favors for friends is not my habit, I evaluate the national interest. And I have never personally spoken to Musk about these matters".

"SpaceX," Meloni explained, "has illustrated to the government the technology it has , which allows secure communications at a national and especially global level, and for us it means above all ensuring secure communications in relations with diplomatic offices and military contingents abroad, which are very sensitive. These are discussions that are normal. Dozens of companies offer their services for the most disparate things, then the investigation is carried out, and if the matter is of interest it is brought to the attention of the competent authorities. We are in the investigation phase , I don't understand all the accusations that have been leveled." The issue of entrusting such communications to private individuals cannot be raised, the prime minister stated, because " there are no public alternatives to secure certain very sensitive and very delicate communications ."

The Prime Minister also announced that Prefect Vittorio Rizzi will be the new head of the DIS following the resignation of Elisabetta Belloni .

Then he spoke about institutional reforms: " I would like to arrive at the next elections with the reform of the premiership approved and an electoral law calibrated on this. If the premiership does not arrive, we will ask ourselves whether this electoral law is the best or not".

Migrant centers in Albania : "It seems to me that the Supreme Court rulings give the government reason, as they say that it is up to the government to establish safe countries. The centers are ready to be operational, then last year the landings decreased by 60% ".

Information and freedom of the press: " I do not believe I have to defend myself from the prediction that I represent a limit or a problem for freedom of the press or for democracy ," said the Prime Minister in response to questions. "I am surprised that the idea that the government intends to compress rights for the press and the careful work of support for the sector carried out by Undersecretary Barachini are put together in the same speech, because everything Barachini does is a choice of the government and not of the individual Undersecretary," she added.

Again: "I hear that I would not answer journalists' questions often. I had a calculation done: in 2024 I answered 350 questions, more than one a day. I made the choice not to hold press conferences at the end of the Council of Ministers meetings to give space to the ministers in their respective spheres of competence , because Giorgia Meloni is not alone in government".

(Unioneonline/L)

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