Harsh criticism for Meloni on Italy's presence at Trump's Peace Council: “The fact that he decided to drag us into this abomination offends Italy”

Italy will be present on Thursday at the first meeting of the Peace Council with observer status, as will Romania. It is unclear for now whether Giorgia Meloni or his Foreign Minister will go to Washington, writes the daily Corriere della Sera.

The Italian Parliament will vote on Tuesday on the subject of Italy's presence with observer status at Trump's Peace Council, which will have a first meeting on Thursday, in Washington, where Romanian President Nicușor Dan will also be present.

The initial announcement of Italy's presence at the summit was made over the weekend by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, an ideological ally of Trump, during a visit to Addis Ababa.

Later, Corriere della Sera writes, she contacted the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, establishing that the government will announce in Parliament the decision regarding the presence of Italy in the White House, with a final vote.

The Italian daily also states that it is not clear yet who will go to the summit on Thursday. According to some government insiders, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has the best chance, 80%, but there is a 20% chance that Meloni himself will travel to the US.

Things might depend on the level of representation of the other countries.

“Meloni wants to humiliate the diplomatic tradition of this country in order not to displease Trump”

In any case, the opposition harshly criticized the government's decision, charging that participation in the Peace Council, even as an observer country, violates Article 11 of the Constitution, which allows Italy to participate in multinational organizations with limited sovereignty only on equal terms.

“Giorgia Meloni wants to humiliate the diplomatic tradition of this country in order not to displease Trump,” accused the head of the opposition Democratic Party, Elly Schlein.

“Joining the club desired by Trump, circumventing the Constitution, and defending the MAGA ideology demonstrates unsustainable subordination, contrary to national interests. Far from being a leader, Meloni is on the fringes of the European project,” added Schlein.

Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte agreed.

“Meloni continues to tarnish Italy just to please Washington. After providing political and military cover to the Netanyahu government, it is now degrading our country to the role of spectator of a real estate speculation project that does not seem to offer any real perspective for the Palestinian population tormented by years of oppression and, more recently, decimated by genocide,” Conte said.

“Meloni can bow as much as he wants. But he should do it in his own name. Not in the name of Italy,” he added.

Centrist senator Carlo Calenda, founder of the Azione party, was also tough.

“The Peace Council is a cabal of dictators, businessmen and profiteers, led for life by Trump and entrusted to (Jared) Kushner, who presented a delusional Palm Beach-style real estate development project on the ruins of Gaza. The Palestinians are not even considered. The fact that Giorgia Meloni has decided to drag us, even as observers, into this abomination offends the dignity of Italy and the Italian people,” said he

The European Commission, present as an observer at the Trump meeting

The first meeting of the Peace Council built by Donald Trump will take place on Thursday, February 19, in Washington.

Romania, through President Nicușor Dan, will participate as an observer at the meeting, the head of state announced on Sunday.

“Next week I will participate in the first meeting of the Peace Council in Washington, responding to the invitation of the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump. Romania will have observer status and I will reaffirm our firm support for international peace efforts and the openness to participate in the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip,” Nicușor Dan said on his Facebook page.

EU Commissioner Dubravka Suica will also travel to Washington to attend the meeting as an observer, a spokesperson for the European Commission said on Monday.

“The European Commission is not becoming a member of the Peace Council, we are participating in this meeting precisely because of our long-standing commitment to the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, as well as to join international efforts to support post-war reconstruction and recovery in Gaza,” spokesman Guillaume Mercier told reporters.

What is the Peace Council?

The US president launched the “Council for Peace” in January, an initiative he said would aim to resolve global conflicts, starting with the war in the Gaza Strip, and promote stability, peace and governance “in areas affected or threatened by conflict”.

Several leaders from around the world, including President Nicușor Dan, received a letter inviting them to join this American initiative.

Trump has asked countries seeking a permanent seat on his new Peace Council to contribute at least $1 billion, Bloomberg, which has seen the body's draft charter, reported.

Most EU states directly refused to participate or signaled that they would not participate. From the European Union, only Hungary and Bulgaria have the status of full members.

The council was originally the brainchild of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a means to end the war in Gaza. But in just a few weeks, it became a universal remedy for all conflicts in the world.

The leaders of the countries that join the body will sit on an executive board — whose members include Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — that will oversee the council's operations in detail.

But joining this initiative, wrote the Financial Times, risks giving the impression of submission, as warned by the governor of California, Gavin Newsom. Participation also risks violating international law or, in Italy's case, its own constitution.

Draft charters that have been leaked suggest Trump will serve as chairman of the council for as long as he wants, with considerable powers.

The president has the sole right to approve the council's “official seal”, is the “final authority” on all disputes, and can expel members — including, in theory, his successor as US president — as long as he is not challenged by a two-thirds majority of the council.

The next president would be chosen by one man: Trump.