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The Rimini Meeting opened with a scene that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago: Giorgia Meloni welcomed by a long standing ovation. The same leader who was once regarded, especially in progressive Catholic circles, as distant—perhaps even incompatible—now appears as a stateswoman capable of uniting firmness with compassion, drawing on Christian roots while embodying the concreteness of a country that has regained centrality on the international stage.
Gaza: The Courage to Say “Enough” and Italy’s Humanitarian Leadership
The most awaited part of her speech was dedicated to the Middle East conflict. Meloni did not hesitate to reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense after the October 7 attack, but she added words destined to resonate: “The reaction has gone beyond the principle of proportionality.” A clear and balanced stance, striking precisely for its clarity.
Her condemnation was strongest after the attack on the Nasser hospital, where five journalists were killed: “An unacceptable assault on press freedom,” she said, stressing that defending truth is a pillar of democracy.
Meloni then highlighted a record that places Italy at the forefront of humanitarian solidarity: over 180 Palestinian children injured or sick have been brought for treatment, along with about 917 evacuees in total, making Rome the leading non-Muslim country in medical evacuations from Gaza. The largest operation took place on August 13: 31 minors and 83 companions transferred on military aircraft, then distributed across hospitals in Lazio, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and other regions. This was the 14th mission since the start of 2024, a figure that far exceeds other European nations.
She voiced pride in this choice: “Some prefer to shout slogans. I am proud of the Italy that saves the children of Gaza.” Words that gave substance to her conservative vision: less rhetoric, more action.
The European Union: From Irrelevance to Centrality
Another central passage concerned the future of the European Union. Meloni insisted on the need for a pragmatic Europe, capable of being geopolitically relevant, citing Mario Draghi’s warning about the continent’s risk of “irrelevance.”
“We are no longer the sick man of Europe,” she declared, pointing out how Italian debt interest rates have now aligned with those of France. For Meloni, this is proof that stability and seriousness in government restore credibility both on the markets and in international forums.
Her message is that the EU must become less ideological and more autonomous, able to defend its own interests without relying entirely on external powers. It is the essence of a conservative European vision: a community of strong, sovereign nations, cooperating without losing their identity.
Ukraine: Atlantic Firmness and Security Guarantees
On Ukraine, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s stance of firmness: Kyiv cannot be left alone and deserves robust guarantees. Rome has put forward a proposal inspired by NATO’s Article 5, which obliges mutual defense in the event of aggression—a formula the Prime Minister considers the most credible to ensure Ukrainian security and to push Moscow toward a genuine negotiation.
Her words come at a time when the conflict is mired in attritional warfare, with a frontline stretching for about 1,000 kilometers. Ukraine remains under pressure but continues to resist. For Meloni, this is about more than one country’s survival: it is a test of the entire international order based on rules and the freedom of nations.
A Governing Right: Identity, Responsibility, and Concreteness
From Gaza to Ukraine to the future of the EU, Meloni’s Rimini speech outlined the profile of a conservative right that does not retreat inward but embraces global responsibilities. A right that defends family and natality, that combats illegal immigration while upholding regulated humanitarian reception, and that does not shy away from confronting entrenched bureaucracies in judicial reform.
The standing ovation that greeted her spoke volumes: Meloni is no longer simply the leader of a right-wing party once viewed with suspicion, but a figure who, through actions and decisions, has earned respect even where there was once distrust
Giorgia Meloni’s speech at the Rimini Meeting was more than a political address: it was proof that conservative leadership can unite firmness with humanity, roots with vision, national identity with international responsibility. The stateswoman once seen as divisive is now recognized as a voice capable of shaping European and global debates.