Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent two Christmas greetings to the country's citizens via her social channels. In one post, she posed with a Christmas sweater and a cup, wishing all the best to Italians and their families. In a video message, Meloni expressed wishes for peace, strength and tranquility and urged not to forget to care for those in need, BTA reports.
On the eve of the holidays, Meloni also held her traditional greetings to the staff of Palazzo Chigi. During the meeting, she called them “a real family” and noted that 2025 had been difficult, warning that next year would be even more challenging. She urged employees to rest well over the holidays so they can tackle the upcoming tasks.
Traditionally, parliamentarians from the prime minister's party are preparing a Christmas present for Meloni. This time it will be a state-of-the-art computer and equipment worth around 10,000 euros. Last year, she received a bedroom for her new house. Meloni, in turn, gave his ministers a porcelain key bowl and an aroma diffuser, while last year the gift was a jar of Nutella liquid chocolate.
On the eve of the holidays, Italian senators approved the draft budget for next year, after more than two months of discussions. It includes measures worth 22 billion euros, including tax breaks for the middle class, relief on arrears, health care funds for three years, a gradual increase in the retirement age in 2027 and 2028, a 2-euro levy on small shipments from third countries and measures for banks and insurers. The budget also includes investments in culture, media, families, investment promotion, as well as funding for the Messina Bridge and the management of Italy's gold reserves. The budget is also expected to be approved by the lower house of parliament.
Meloni also delivered a traditional message to military personnel, especially those on missions abroad. "Peace is a precious commodity that we must preserve. He who knows war understands best the need to prepare," she said during a video conference with the Joint Operational Command. The prime minister quoted the Latin phrase "si vis pacem, para bellum" (“whoever wants peace, prepare for war“), emphasizing that the message is pragmatic: reliable military forces prevent aggression. She also recalled the etymology of “deterrence“ - “to instill fear in order to divert“, and noted that diplomacy and dialogue are effective only if they are supported by a solid foundation.