Ultimately, Giorgia Meloni and Silvio Berlusconi decided to park their differences—at least for now. The leaders of Italy’s far-right and of the centre-right bloc, the two main forces in the coalition that secured the last elections, met in Rome on Monday to steer a developing crisis toward a stable government. The friction centers on Forza Italia’s influence inside the cabinet Meloni is assembling, and reports indicate a deal is in motion to resolve it.
Across the table with Berlusconi, Meloni, and the loyal right flank figure Matteo Salvini, the trio signaled that the head of state, President Sergio Mattarella, would be briefed as talks heat up. They said the aim is to form a governing executive within days, promising a strong, united, and high-profile government poised to confront emergencies immediately after the electoral cycle ends. The wording suggested that a clear path toward governance was being charted, even as the political landscape remained unsettled (Source: Reuters).
Over the weekend, signs of a possible closure to the impasse began to emerge. The most telling hint came from Licia Ronzulli, once a nurse and a longtime ally of Berlusconi, who had been floated as a cabinet appointment by the veteran politician. Meloni reportedly rejected that specific move, and Ronzulli publicly stepped back from the talks, denying that her name had been a central item in negotiations. The dynamic appeared to stretch the bargaining since then (Source: Associated Press).
Of course, the duration of any accord remains uncertain, and obstacles could reappear in the days ahead. Berlusconi, at 86, is Italy’s longest-serving postwar prime minister, a figure whose experience contrasts with the party’s evolution in recent years. The relationship between the former government partners has shifted, with the two forming a government years earlier when Meloni herself was a teenager and served in a junior role within Berlusconi’s administration. Those memories underscore the evolving power balance and the different political temperatures at play (Source: Reuters).
Make clear who is in charge
Meloni has moved to project a commanding leadership, arguing that her party, Brothers of Italy, emerged as the most voted-for bloc in the last election and should steer the coalition. That stance was on display Friday when Meloni publicly challenged Berlusconi, not hesitating to speak plainly and without hesitation. The message was direct: there would be no coercion or unacceptable concessions as the bloc navigates the formation of a new government (Source: Financial Times).
The Monday meeting, held at Scrofa Street—the headquarters of Brothers of Italy in Rome—was symbolic. It signified Meloni’s intent to assert the party’s primacy within the alliance while signaling readiness to move forward with an arrangement that preserves unity. Observers noted that Berlusconi, while poised to participate, seemed amenable to a pragmatic compromise for the time being, with a view to accelerating negotiations around the new executive (Source: Reuters).
Family and allies within the far-right circle have framed Meloni as a driver of the coalition’s direction. Two aides, Guido Crosetto and Francesco Lollobrigida, spoke publicly in Meloni’s defense before the meeting, arguing that she does not harbor grudges and that a workable path forward remains viable. On the other hand, some centrist voices within the broader coalition have floated the possibility of continuing without Forza Italia if necessary, referencing leaders like Matteo Renzi of Italia Viva as potential supporters to double-check the arithmetic (Source: Bloomberg).
Still, a larger question lingers: will other major partners, such as Matteo Salvini’s League, remain aligned as the negotiations unfold? The possibility exists that an eventual agreement with Meloni may come with new conditions, or even be postponed if pressing issues emerge with other big players. The trajectory of these talks will determine not only the shape of the government but also how the coalition manages its internal tensions in the near term (Source: Reuters).
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