The long-distance “confrontation” between the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and Stellantis does not stop. After the words spoken a few days ago in the Fourth Repubblica, where, referring to the newspaper Repubblica, she said she did not accept “lessons on Italianity from those who sold Fiat to the French”, the Prime Minister returns to the topic during a question in the Chamber.
The occasion and the question from Matteo Richetti, leader of the Azione a Montecitorio group, who asks for a report on the “initiatives that aim to guarantee the continuity of production and employment in the Italian factories of Stellantis and Magneti Marelli, as part of a relaunch plan of the Automotive Sector”. Meloni does not need to be warned twice and goes on the attack. However, he defended his right to criticize, after the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, defined the Prime Minister’s criticisms as unfair to the Italian employees and accused the Government of having wasted nine months on incentives. «The Fiat automobile group and related Italian brands – begins the president – represent an important part of the national industrial history, both in terms of employment and wealth produced. It is an economic asset that deserves the utmost attention. And I believe that this also means having the courage to criticize some choices made by the group’s ownership and management when they were far from Italian interests”. The reference is easy to say, and not so much between the lines: «I am thinking about the transfer of the tax and legal headquarters outside national borders, in the presumed merger between FCA and PSA that concealed a French acquisition of the historic Italian group, so much so that a representative of the French government is part of Stellantis’ board of directors and it is no coincidence that the group’s industrial choices take French requests into consideration much more than Italian ones.”
The line drawn for the future by the Government is straight and marked. «As always, we want to defend the national interest, establish a balanced relationship with Stellantis to defend production in Italy, employment levels and all related automotive industries». That’s why “we changed the rules, on the one hand encouraging those who return to produce in Italy and on the other discouraging those who move, who will have to return any benefit or public assistance received in the last ten years. We want to return to producing at least one million vehicles per year in Italy with those who really want to invest in historic Italian excellence.” With a precise warning: «If you want to sell a car on the world market advertising it as an Italian jewel, then that car must be produced in Italy. These are the rules of the current Government and they apply to everyone.”
Stellantis’ remote response was quick to arrive and, through a spokesperson, highlighted how the company is “strongly committed to Italy” and “has invested several billion euros in Italian activities for new products and production sites. More than 63% of the vehicles produced last year in Stellantis’ Italian factories were exported abroad, thus contributing to the Italian trade balance”, he highlights, specifying that last year more than 752 thousand vehicles were produced (cars + commercial vehicles) , an increase of 9.6%. in relation to 2022, of which more than 474 thousand were sold abroad. In particular, with more than 85,000 units produced, Mirafiori had an export of 93%, Cassino, with around 48,800, 75%, Pomigliano, with around 215,000, 41%, Modena, with around 1,240, 92% , Atessa, with around 230 thousand, at 85%, and Melfi, with more than 170,120, at 53%.
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.
