Italy's PM seeks reset after referendum blow, pivots on energy, Trump

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to attempt a political reset, aiming to revitalize her premiership following a bruising referendum defeat last month linked to rising energy prices and her perceived closeness to US President Donald Trump, POLITICO reports.

“The war created uncertainty, and a sense of fear has prevailed among those alarmed by the rise in petrol prices,” said Paolo Barelli, whip for the center-right Forza Italia party and a member of the ruling coalition, after the electoral loss.

In an address to parliament, Meloni is expected to outline a political relaunch, reframing her agenda around energy security while signaling greater distance from Trump. Her recent high-profile visit to the Gulf marked an early indication that energy policy is now central to her strategy, presented explicitly as a matter of national interest.

Her speech is also expected to highlight issues that resonate with her political base, including security and migration, while building on measures already introduced—such as cuts to fuel excise duties—to shield households and businesses from rising energy costs. The renewed focus comes after the Bank of Italy revised down growth forecasts last week, citing “exceptionally high uncertainty.”

Energy policy is also likely to shape Italy’s approach to the European Union. Meloni’s government is pushing for more flexible fiscal rules, arguing that the current crisis justifies loosening spending constraints tied to energy security.

On April 8, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the issue as a government “priority,” likening EU debt rules to a “straitjacket.” European officials have shown some openness to this stance, with France’s European Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné saying the bloc would not rule out greater flexibility in light of the crisis.

Meloni’s repositioning also extends to foreign policy. In an interview with state broadcaster RAI last week, she adopted a firmer tone toward Trump, saying that while there is “little to gain” from strained transatlantic relations, her priority is to “defend national interests.” She added: “When we don’t agree, we say so — and this time we do not agree.”

Her office reinforced that stance on April 7, emphasizing alignment with European partners on the need to “preserve civilian infrastructure,” following Trump’s repeated threats to target Iranian power plants and bridges. At the end of March, Italy declined to allow a U.S. bomber mission to land at a base in Sicily en route to the Middle East, although Meloni stressed the move did not signal a rupture with Washington.

Within her coalition, some allies now view her previously close relationship with Trump as a political liability, blaming it in part for the referendum defeat.

“Until [the Iran war happened] we were ahead, then there was a dramatic fall,” a coalition lawmaker told POLITICO, attributing the loss to the Middle East conflict. “For better or worse, in the collective imagination, the right was associated with Donald Trump,” he added.

Nicola Lupo, a professor of public law at LUISS University, said both the referendum and polling trends indicate that alignment with Trump carries political risks, noting that across Europe it has become “toxic — even on the right — to be seen as close to Trump.”

Despite the setback, the government has ruled out early elections amid global instability and energy shocks. However, Meloni’s political future may hinge not only on her ability to maintain coalition unity and pursue electoral reforms, but also on how the international crisis evolves—and her perceived proximity to its key actors.

By Vafa Guliyeva