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Italy’s Senate Approves Meloni-Backed Electoral Reform Amid Opposition Fury

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Italy’s Senate approved a controversial electoral reform on Tuesday, backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative coalition, despite strong opposition criticism. The proposed system would use fully proportional representation while granting a parliamentary majority to any alliance that wins more than 42% of the vote. The measure passed by 113 votes to 71 but still requires final approval from the lower house.

Meloni’s coalition says the reform would bring greater political stability to Italy, which has experienced frequent changes of government. Opposition leaders, however, accuse Meloni of changing the electoral rules to strengthen her chances in next year’s election. Under the current system, around one-third of lawmakers are elected through first-past-the-post constituencies, which analysts say could benefit centre-left parties.

The reform must now return to the Chamber of Deputies after amendments made in the Senate. The debate comes as tensions grow within both the governing coalition and the opposition. A previous attempt to restore preferential voting was narrowly rejected in the lower house, exposing divisions within Meloni’s alliance as the country approaches its next national election.

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Catania Airport Suspends Flights Again as Mount Etna Ash Disrupts Travel

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Flights at Italy’s Catania airport were suspended again on Monday as volcanic ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing activity disrupted operations. Airport operator SAC said all arrivals would be halted until 4 p.m. local time, affecting one of Italy’s busiest airports and potentially disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.

Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and one of its most active volcanoes, frequently causes flight disruptions at Catania. However, ash emissions have been particularly intense this summer, creating repeated challenges for the airport during the busy holiday season.

Authorities are closely monitoring the volcanic activity and its impact on aviation safety. The latest suspension comes after previous disruptions linked to Etna’s eruptions, highlighting the continuing challenges faced by Sicily’s main air travel hub during periods of increased volcanic activity.

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Italian Court Confirms Shutdown at Major Steelworks, Blow to Meloni

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An Italian court on Friday upheld an order to shut down the blast furnaces at the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto, dealing a setback to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s efforts to keep the country’s largest steel plant operating while a buyer is sought. The plant is considered strategically important to Italy’s manufacturing sector and supplies steel to industries including construction and automotive.

The Milan Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by operator Acciaierie d’Italia against an earlier ruling that ordered the shutdown and remediation of the plant’s hot-end facilities over inadequate environmental safeguards. The decision adds uncertainty to the future of the sprawling complex, which has long faced disputes over pollution, public health, jobs and industrial policy.

The Taranto plant directly employs around 8,000 workers and supports a large network of contractors. The government is seeking investors for the company, which is under extraordinary administration, while officials have not ruled out maintaining a public stake. Italy is also considering a greener future for the steel industry, including electric arc furnaces powered by direct reduced iron (DRI).

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Emma Bonino, Italian Politician and Abortion Rights Pioneer, Dies at 78

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Emma Bonino, the veteran Italian politician and prominent campaigner for abortion rights and civil liberties, died on Friday at the age of 78, her spokesperson said. Her political journey began in the 1970s, when she publicly challenged Italy’s then-illegal abortion laws after undergoing a clandestine procedure and later turning herself in to police.

Bonino went on to become a leading figure in Italy’s Radical Party and served in both the Italian and European parliaments. She held senior government positions, including foreign minister and European affairs minister, and served as a European Commissioner. Throughout her five-decade career, she campaigned on issues including gender equality, migrant rights, female genital mutilation, pension equality and European integration.

Known for her outspoken style and willingness to challenge established norms, Bonino remained active in politics well into her 70s. She survived lung cancer and continued her public work despite health challenges. In 2024, Pope Francis made an unusual visit to her home following a serious health scare, highlighting the respect she commanded despite their differences over abortion.

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Meloni Nears Italy’s Stability Record, But 2027 Election Could Disrupt It

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to lead Italy’s longest-lasting government since World War Two, surpassing a record previously held by Silvio Berlusconi. Her government has benefited from political stability and improved investor confidence, particularly through tighter control of Italy’s public finances.

However, analysts warn that the stability may not last beyond the 2027 parliamentary elections. While Meloni’s government has strengthened employment and reduced irregular migration, critics say it has made limited progress on deeper reforms to public administration, healthcare and education. A failed judicial reform referendum and strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump have also weakened her political standing.

The rise of a new far-right party led by former general Roberto Vannacci is adding further uncertainty. Recent polling suggests Meloni’s conservative coalition could struggle to reach the 42% threshold linked to proposed electoral reforms, while Vannacci’s support has risen to around 8%. Analysts say Italy could once again face a fragmented parliament and unstable coalition politics after the election.

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Italy’s Population Set to Shrink by 4 Million by 2050

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Italy’s population is projected to fall by almost 4 million by 2050, raising concerns over the country’s economy and welfare system as its population continues to age. The national statistics agency ISTAT said the population could decline from 58.9 million in early 2025 to around 55 million by 2050, before falling further to 45.8 million by 2080.

Italy’s declining birth rate is a major factor behind the demographic trend. Births fell to about 355,000 in 2025, the lowest level since the country’s unification in 1861. ISTAT expects annual births to remain broadly stable until 2030 before declining to around 335,000 by 2050, while annual deaths could peak at 869,000 in 2058.

The ageing population is expected to put increasing pressure on Italy’s workforce, pensions and welfare services. The share of people aged 65 and above is projected to rise from 24.7% in 2025 to 34.5% in 2050, while the working-age population could fall from 63.4% to 55.3%. Southern Italy is expected to experience the sharpest decline, with its population forecast to fall from 19.7 million to 16.7 million by 2050.

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A Decade After Earthquake, Italy’s Amatrice Struggles to Rebuild

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Ten years after a devastating earthquake killed 303 people and destroyed much of central Italy’s Amatrice, the town is still struggling to recover. The 6.2-magnitude quake left thousands homeless, with Amatrice suffering the highest number of deaths. Although the government has approved billions of euros for reconstruction, only 38% of damaged properties in Amatrice have been restored.

Rebuilding has been slowed by bureaucracy, legal disputes, ownership issues and labour shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted construction, while Italy’s Superbonus renovation scheme increased building costs and diverted workers to more profitable projects elsewhere. Around 1,000 residents, or about 60% of Amatrice’s population, still live in prefabricated shelters.

Beyond the physical reconstruction, residents fear the town is losing its connection with a younger generation. Families that once returned every summer are increasingly staying away, while some residents have left permanently. Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi says the town is being rebuilt, but questions whether recreating the old town is enough to restore the community and its way of life.

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Italy’s Fragmented Space Industry Faces Pressure to Consolidate Amid European Defence Push

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As Europe accelerates efforts to strengthen its strategic autonomy in defence and critical technologies, Italy’s space industry is facing mounting pressure to scale up. Historically defined by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with niche engineering expertise, the sector is struggling to meet evolving customer demands. Major defence buyers like Leonardo, alongside commercial clients, are increasingly favoring larger suppliers that can offer vertical integration, broad production capacity, and end-to-end industrial solutions rather than standalone components or engineering know-how.

The push for scale is driven by the growing importance of dual-use (civilian and military) technologies, competition from heavily capitalized global players like SpaceX, and broader geopolitical shifts. However, Italian executives point to limited access to private capital and fragmented European funding as significant barriers to growth. To overcome these hurdles, public and private initiatives are stepping in—such as a joint financing program by Intesa Sanpaolo, the European Investment Bank, and the European Space Agency aimed at providing up to €300 million to space SMEs, as well as an estimated €7.8 billion in total national sector investments expected by 2028.

To build competitiveness quickly without sacrificing specialized innovation, leading Italian space firms are turning to mergers and acquisitions. Companies like Officina Stellare and D-Orbit are actively acquiring complementary tech and production specialists to expand their capabilities and secure larger government and defence contracts. Industry leaders emphasize that the key challenge moving forward is securing the necessary scale and capital before foreign competitors outpace or acquire them.

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Italy Recovers Stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse Paintings

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Italian police have recovered three paintings by renowned French artists Paul Cezanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri Matisse, around five months after they were stolen from a museum near Parma. Italy’s Carabinieri cultural heritage protection unit said the artworks were found following a complex investigation, with further details expected to be released.

The paintings were taken from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo during the night of March 22-23. Art experts estimated their combined value at more than €9 million ($10.4 million). The recovered works include Cezanne’s Cup and Plate of Cherries, Renoir’s The Fish and Matisse’s Odalisque on the Terrace.

Police also released footage showing two masked burglars entering the museum through a window, removing the three paintings from the walls and escaping in less than three minutes. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca houses a private collection featuring works by major artists including Titian, Goya, Tiepolo, Monet, Rubens and Morandi.

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Italian NATO Fighter Shoots Down Drone Over Latvia

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An Italian Eurofighter jet operating under NATO command shot down a drone after it entered Latvian airspace on Friday, according to NATO and Latvian authorities. The drone’s origin remains unknown, with Latvian National Guard troops searching a wooded area near Rugaji, about 35 km from the Russian border, for possible debris from the aircraft.

Two Italian Eurofighters scrambled from Lithuania, while two Turkish F-16s were also deployed from Estonia after the drone was detected. NATO said one of the Italian jets identified and destroyed the drone, adding that an investigation was underway and that it remained in close contact with Latvian authorities. The incident comes amid growing concerns over drone incursions into the airspace of NATO’s Baltic members, which border Russia and are close to the war in Ukraine.

A Romanian F-16 shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia in May, while a French Rafale destroyed another drone in Latvia in June. Finland also temporarily restricted some aviation and maritime activity in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precaution.

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