Meloni’s Statement on Friendship and Government Policy
“I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,” Meloni stated, responding to inquiries during a parliamentary discussion. This statement comes after Meloni’s government passed a new law to regulate the operations of private space companies in Italy, a move expected to attract significant foreign investment.
Government’s Efforts to Attract Investments
Meloni’s administration has worked closely with Musk, particularly since taking office in 2022, in hopes of bringing investments to Italy. In the summer, Italy approved a framework to allow foreign space companies to operate within its borders, potentially generating 7.3 billion Euros (USD 7.7 billion) in investments by 2026.
Meloni’s Response to Critics
In her speech, Meloni took a jab at her predecessors, stating that previous Italian leaders often felt pressured to follow the lead of foreign leaders. “Those who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader, they had to slavishly follow what the others did,” she said. She further emphasized that, while she maintains good relationships with many people, she does not take orders from anyone.
Ongoing Media Attention Around Their Relationship
Meloni and Musk’s relationship has sparked media attention, particularly after a photo of the two looking fondly at each other went viral last September. Musk later denied rumors of a romantic relationship after the image was widely circulated. The two were photographed at a black-tie event in New York where Musk presented Meloni with an award.
In addition, Musk has publicly commented on political matters in Italy, including a recent dispute over Meloni’s plans to vet migrants rescued at sea. His remarks on the issue were criticized by Italy’s president.This ongoing attention to their interactions highlights the growing influence of Musk in European politics, especially in the context of Italy’s space industry and immigration policies.
