The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is scheduled to meet with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Rome on Saturday. Merz is in Italy to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday and will hold a bilateral meeting with Meloni prior to the event at the Vatican.
Merz is affiliated with the conservative Christian Democratic Union party, while Meloni is Italy’s first female prime minister since World War II and has conservative views on issues like migration.
The visit comes amid reports suggesting that the German government has reduced the importance of diplomacy with Italy. The conservative German newspaper Die Welt reported that an early draft of the new German government’s coalition agreement listed Italy as an important partner and member of an expanded European axis, alongside France and Poland.
However, in the final agreement, Rome is no longer mentioned in this context, with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) reportedly responsible for the change.
Lars Klingbeil, a member of the SPD and vice chancellor and finance minister, will accompany Merz on the trip to Italy. Several high-ranking Italian politicians have voiced their anger over the reports.
A German Foreign Office spokesperson has denied the reports, stating that Italy is still welcome as a member of the Weimar Plus format, which is an extension of the Weimar Triangle diplomatic forum involving Germany, France, and Poland.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-updates-chancellor-merz-to-meet-italy-s-meloni/live-72572767?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
