Giorgia Meloni is not going to Washington, to Trump's Peace Council, she is sending the Secretary of State instead

Italy will participate in the meeting organized by the American president as an observer, as will Romania and the European Commission. But she will be represented by Antonio Tajani, writes the Italian press agency Ansa.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is also deputy prime minister in the government in Rome, confirmed on Wednesday that he, and not Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will represent Italy in Washington on Thursday at the meeting of US President Donald Trump's Peace Council.

Italy participates as an observer because the government states that Rome cannot be a full member, as the Italian Constitution states that Italy can only join international bodies if it is on an equal footing with all other members.

Romania, like Italy, also participates as an observer, but will be represented at the highest level by President Nicușor Dan.

How Tajani explains the presence in Washington

“I will go to Washington to represent Italy as an observer at this first meeting of the Peace Council, to be present when decisions are made on the reconstruction of Gaza and the future of Palestine,” Tajani said during a visit to Tirana.

He insisted that Italy has a major interest in the region.

“Italy is an important actor in the Mediterranean region. We cannot but be part of a strategy that will keep us in the front line, listening to what is being done. We must do what we have always done to build peace and stability in the entire Middle East,” Tajani said.

“So it is a political choice that respects the Constitution of the Republic, but allows Italy to continue to be part of a strategy that includes the European Union,” he said.

The government was criticized for its decision to join the Peace Council

The Italian 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