EditMeloni heads to Parliament amid energy emergency while Salvini calls for renewed ties with Russia
As Italy scrambles to secure alternative supplies from the Gulf and weighs consumption cuts, the League leader’s demand exposes growing tensions inside the coalition
An escalating energy crisis, a rapidly deteriorating geopolitical backdrop and a parliamentary appearance set to become a political stress test for the government. This is the context in which Giorgia Meloni is preparing for Thursday’s address to parliament – now expected to focus squarely on energy, rather than the domestic political issues that had originally prompted it – while facing pressure from League leader Matteo Salvini, who is once again calling for a reopening to Russian oil and gas.
Back in Rome after a two-day tour of Gulf countries, the prime minister is grappling with a more fragile situation than anticipated. The combination of war in Iran, tensions along key maritime routes and renewed volatility in energy markets has brought back a scenario Europe believed it had largely moved past after 2022.
From the Gulf to Rome: securing energy supply
Meloni’s Gulf tour fits squarely into this strategy, with a clear objective: to shore up Italy’s energy supply chains in a phase of heightened instability. The trip took her to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – three central players in global oil and gas markets and increasingly critical partners for Europe following the reduction of Russian supplies.
In Jeddah, talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman focused primarily on oil and market stability. Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s top producers and a key actor capable of influencing output levels – and therefore prices. With the Strait of Hormuz under strain and regional tensions mounting, Rome is seeking closer coordination with Riyadh to avoid further supply shocks.
In Qatar, discussions centred on gas – a strategic resource for Italy. Doha covers roughly 10% of the country’s gas demand and has become one of its main alternatives to Russia. Talks with the emir focused not only on supply continuity but also on strengthening cooperation in energy infrastructure and investment.
Finally, in the United Arab Emirates, Meloni’s meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan helped consolidate the broader framework, with particular emphasis on energy investments and the security of trade routes. The common thread running through the mission was clear: diversify sources, deepen ties with key producers and reduce Italy’s – and Europe’s – exposure to a crisis that is increasingly structural, driven by rising prices and the risk of supply disruptions.
Meloni defended the trip as necessary to “protect the national interest”, arguing that instability in the Gulf directly translates into higher energy costs and pressure on businesses and households – a message aimed at justifying a more assertive international posture.
Stocks, consumption and emergency planning
Back in Rome, attention has shifted to numbers and scenarios. The government’s technical gas committee is assessing stock levels and short-term outlooks, while Environment and Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin is expected to translate these into operational proposals for the prime minister’s office.
Italy currently remains in a relatively stronger position than many EU countries, with storage levels above the European average. However, that margin is narrowing quickly. Projections suggest a potential deterioration as early as May, when the issue could shift from price pressures to physical availability of gas and fuel.
In this context, the government is revisiting the emergency playbook used during the 2022 energy crisis. Measures under consideration include curbing energy consumption – from limiting air conditioning in summer to lowering heating levels in winter – alongside more stringent options such as expanded remote working in the public sector, mobility restrictions and, ultimately, rationing.
For now, officials are reluctant to formalise such measures to avoid fuelling public alarm. But the planning horizon, according to government sources, has shrunk to just a few weeks.
Fuel taxes: a costly and limited buffer
Compounding the situation is the government’s fiscal intervention to cushion rising fuel prices. The cabinet has extended a temporary cut to excise duties on petrol and diesel until 1 May, at an estimated cost of €500 million in lost revenue.
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti described the move as a short-term “buffer”, to be reassessed depending on developments in the Middle East.
Yet the impact has been limited. The roughly 25-cent-per-litre reduction has only partially translated into lower prices at the pump, largely offset by rising crude oil costs. Implementation has also been uneven across the distribution network, with only part of the benefit passed on to consumers in the early days and, in some cases, even price increases recorded.
More broadly, the measure highlights a structural issue: Italy remains among the EU countries with the highest fuel taxation. Excise duties are not only a key source of public revenue but also serve an environmental purpose, discouraging fossil fuel consumption. That makes sustained tax cuts difficult to maintain — particularly as EU policy increasingly pushes in the opposite direction.
Parliament test: crisis management meets political strain
Against this backdrop, Thursday’s parliamentary address takes on significance well beyond routine political reporting. Originally intended to outline the government’s agenda after weeks of internal tensions, the speech has been overtaken by events.
Meloni will now be expected to detail short-term measures to contain price pressures and secure supply, while also clarifying Italy’s position within the broader European response. The issue operates on two levels: national, in terms of immediate interventions, and European, in terms of coordinated action.
She is also likely to call for political responsibility from the opposition, seeking to frame the crisis as a shared national challenge. But the political climate remains tense.
Opposition parties have criticised the Gulf trip as a distraction from domestic difficulties and accuse the government of lacking a coherent strategy on energy. Within the governing coalition, divisions are becoming increasingly visible.
Salvini has continued to push for reopening energy ties with Russia – a stance firmly rejected by Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and coalition partner Forza Italia. The divide could deepen if the crisis worsens in the coming weeks.
Market pressure and early economic fallout
Meanwhile, market signals remain volatile. European gas storage is declining, prices are rising again and oil remains elevated. Early signs of strain are already visible, including fuel supply disruptions at some Italian airports and growing concern ahead of the summer peak in energy demand.
The risk, widely acknowledged by analysts, is that the energy crisis could quickly spill over into a broader economic downturn, affecting industrial output, inflation and household purchasing power.
It is against this fragile backdrop that Meloni will take the floor on Thursday. More than a routine update, the address will serve as a test of the government’s ability to navigate a multi-layered crisis – balancing domestic politics, international relations and economic security – with one key question looming: how long before the emergency becomes permanent.
The original article in Italian can be found here.
Caption: A handout photo made available by the UAE Presidential Court shows UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) sit for a meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 5 April 2026. EPA/Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court HANDOUT
Updated: April 8, 2026 - 05:08
