The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, took place in Rome on Sunday evening and was closed to the public. Macron went on to explain on Twitter that he relied on “dialogue and ambition” in his relationship with the new Italian government.
Meloni has led Italy’s right-wing government since the republic was founded in 1946. Macron was the first foreign leader she met after taking office.
The French presidential office described the meeting with the Italian head of government as “pragmatic and constructive”, but also “open”. Meloni’s office, in turn, called the conversation “friendly and fruitful.” It discussed the need for urgent and concerted action against high energy prices, support for Ukraine and migration issues.
Meloni and Macron agree that their countries want to continue to “work together on the biggest common challenges at the European level and with respect for respective national interests”, according to the prime minister’s cabinet.
Even before reporting his meeting with Meloni on Twitter, Macron thanked outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi for his cooperation.
Statements from close relatives of the French head of state made it clear that Macron viewed the new Italian prime minister with restraint. The Meloni government will be “a little measured by their actions,” it said. The president is “vigilant” regarding the new Italian government.
The far-right Meloni was sworn in on Saturday. On Sunday, she formally took over government affairs from her predecessor Draghi and then chaired her first cabinet meeting.
In addition to Meloni’s Party d’Italia (FDI), her government also includes the right-wing nationalist Lega and the conservative Forza Italia (FI). There are already tensions within the coalition, for example over the position on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
While Meloni’s coalition partners, Matteo Salvini of the Lega and Silvio Berlusconi of the FI, have been making friendly comments about Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin for years, Meloni is determined to support Ukraine – a promise she repeated after taking office.
Macron delivered a speech at a peace rally of the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio during his visit to Rome. He called for a peace solution between Ukraine and Russia. However, the decision when peace with Russia is “possible” rests solely with the Ukrainians, he stressed at the same time.
(SDA)