foreign travel
A new SMS contact: Söder at Meloni in Rome
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are in agreement on energy, transport and asylum policy issues. photo
© Oliver Weiken/dpa
Markus Söder raves about Markus Söder: Two state visits in one trip – Italy and the Vatican. Visiting Prime Minister Meloni is not that easy politically. But Söder is satisfied.
And otherwise? This trip is a typical Söder – say his critics. For a long time, the CSU leader had heavily criticized his deputy, the EPP party and parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber, for his contacts with Italy – in particular that Weber sought dialogue with the new head of government and did not fully cooperate with her party at the EU level had excluded. And now Söder himself is there. A typical U-turn?
This is exactly why the State Chancellery and Söder had emphasized at every possible opportunity before the trip that it was a state visit, meaning that the Prime Minister was flying to Rome, not the CSU chairman. “This is a state visit, not a party visit,” said Söder before departure from Munich. In addition, as an explanation and justification, he prepared the quote before the trip that the trip to Italy was a “balanced visit” – “arranged” by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Discontent is growing in Italy
Meloni has been at the head of a right-wing coalition since October 2022. She governs with her ultra-right Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) with the right-wing populist Lega of Matteo Salvini and the conservative party Forza Italia. So far, relatively scandal-free – at least considering the fears among European and international partners about Meloni’s roots in a party that emerged from fascism.
Domestically, Meloni is facing increasing criticism. A planned and controversial constitutional reform, which is intended to massively strengthen the office of the Prime Minister, is particularly causing dissatisfaction. Journalists from Italy’s public broadcaster also criticize what they see as omnipresent control by the right-wing government’s politics and recently went on strike against it. Her critics also complain that Meloni does not want to describe herself as “anti-fascist” despite numerous requests.
In foreign policy, however, Italy remains a reliable partner. Under Meloni, Italy is one of Ukraine’s reliable supporters within the EU and NATO. Italy currently holds the presidency of the G7 group of leading democratic industrial nations. As current G7 chairwoman, Meloni is emphatically state-supporting.
Meloni’s party as an EPP member?
Weber should see himself confirmed in his dialogue course with Meloni. And von der Leyen, who could also rely on the support of Meloni’s party if she seeks re-election, is working closely with the Italian.
It is more difficult for Söder. Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Schulze made it clear before the trip: “The shift to the right is noticeable everywhere, but Markus Söder is not putting up a firewall,” she criticized. “Nonsense,” counters Söder and emphasizes: “It would be a mistake not to talk to neighbors.” After all, you are also talking to countries in the world where you are much more skeptical. But then Söder feels compelled to make one thing clear as party leader: Meloni’s party’s membership in the EPP is “completely out of the question” for him. He also rejects a “formal coalition agreement” in the European Parliament – but says nothing about the fact that von der Leyen might need the votes of the Meloni party.
In Europe, Melonis Fratelli belong to the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) party, which is far to the right of the EPP. However, the EKR does not include the German AfD, from which Meloni distanced himself at the beginning of the year. She spoke of “irreconcilable differences” and was referring primarily to the AfD’s relations with Russia.
Fifth trip abroad within a few months
Söder prefers to emphasize the common interests of Bavaria and Italy and argues that the appointment with Meloni is “of vital interest for Bavaria.” For example, because the Free State wants to push ahead with the project of a hydrogen pipeline from Italy to the south of Germany – which is of course also found in an action plan by the German and Italian governments. And because Bavaria and the Italian province of South Tyrol are joining forces against Austria in the dispute over regular truck block handling on the Brenner. Italy has therefore taken Vienna to the European Court of Justice, which Bavaria welcomes. However, Söder’s visit to Meloni does not bring any concrete results on these topics. However, Söder emphasizes a great deal of agreement on many issues. After all, Meloni apparently wants to examine the idea of a truck slot system at the Brenner Pass if necessary.
Therefore: Is that all why Söder is now traveling to Italy? An attempt to present oneself as suitable for chancellor, as his critics blaspheme? As a reminder: The trip to Italy is Söder’s fifth trip abroad within a few months. Of course, he never misses an opportunity to emphasize that talks between a Bavarian Prime Minister and a foreign head of government are anything but a given. Although: Söder’s predecessors also enjoyed this privilege. Or has it just become too boring for Söder in Bavaria lately? This thesis was recently raised at home.
One thing is clear: after the ABBA performance in Sweden and the pandas in China, there should be nice pictures from Rome again. In the afternoon, Söder arrived at the Spanish Steps: At the foot of the Roman landmark, he ate an ice cream in summer temperatures between countless selfies with German tourists. Later we will visit the Trevi Fountain. On Saturday, Pope Francis wants to receive Söder for a private audience, for the second time since 2018. Söder also wants to visit the grave of the “Bavarian Pope” Benedict in St. Peter’s Basilica. After meeting Meloni, these appointments are completely unproblematic.