An old saying, handed down from grandparents to grandchildren on cold winter nights in front of a roaring fireplace, states that it is always best to count to ten before speaking. A saying as old as it is current, but evidently unknown to the Italian left. That yesterday created yet another terrible figure. The newspaper Repubblica, which has always been very close to the progressive universe, published a full-page headline: «Mattarella does not sign the cultured meat law. Approval from the European Union will be necessary first.” As our readers know, the defense of our food excellence was one of the most important battles fought by the moderate executive. According to the article published in the newspaper founded by Eugenio Scalfari “the law approved by Parliament to Banning the production and sale of food derived from cell cultures in Italy is not yet in force. And it won’t be anytime soon. Why a European assessment is needed: The rules strongly supported by the right have an impact on the continental single market, as would limit the free movement of laboratory-produced food in Italy. You run the risk of facing infringement proceedings. That’s why, two weeks after the Chamber’s definitive green light on Minister Francesco Lollobrigida’s bill, the text has not yet arrived formally to the Quirinale for examination. And an assessment will not be made before the EU has expressed its opinion. In short, until then it will not be submitted to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella for signature establishing its entry into force: the project remains in the fridge. If the government hoped to skip a step and enforce the law before confronting Brussels, this will not be the case.” In short, a resounding defeat for the conservatives, at least if you read Repubblica.
A slip that the senator of the Green and Left Alliance, Aurora Floridia, took advantage of, bypassing the essential checks in the case. “You cannot prohibit trade in a product that falls under EU competence. This time, the arrogance of the Meloni government, which never wants to deal with the opposition, was stopped.” Dreams (on the left) are desires, but they do not always come true. Fortunately for the Italians. In fact, it was enough to wait a few hours, and the entire house of cards, the controversies built on nothing, the cloying whipped cream melted like snow in the sun. In fact, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, promulgated the bill against synthetic meat yesterday morning. The Government, we read in a note published by Quirinale, sent the provision that accompanies it with a letter informing the European Commission of the notification of the draft law to the European Commission and with the commitment to comply with any observations that may be made by the Commission within the scope of the procedure notification.
«Another dramatic defeat for the left – highlighted the leader of the IDE group in the Chamber, Tommaso Foti – On the contrary, this is a great victory for the Meloni government, which sweeps away the fake news skilfully created by certain national press and the opposition» . Great satisfaction was expressed by the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida. «Italy has officially become the first nation in the world to actively combat the production of cultured meat, with a rule banning its production, marketing and import. It could be an example for other European nations and possibly useful, in line with the European Parliament’s expressions, to prevent these products from being produced and marketed in the Union in the future. This provision safeguards territory, work, social equity and quality as elements inherent to food, which must always guarantee well-being and be seen as simple food. Today there is a Government that maintains its commitments at all costs, especially those to defend national interests.”
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
