Bavaria's head of government is planning a two-day trip to Rome, including an audience with the Pope. The visit is undoubtedly spicy – but also politically exciting.
Munich – Looking back, it was something between discussion and gossip. In September 2022, the CSU executive board met for a passionate debate about whether they wanted to see the new Italian head of government, Giorgia Meloni, as a political friend or a post-fascist. Party vice-president Manfred Weber strongly advocated dialogue. He was left alone in the group. In the end, party leader Markus Söder warned that it was “a problem when citizens put radicals into office.” And called for a “fire wall to the right”.
This situation remained the same for a good year and a half: Weber occasionally sought personal dialogue with Meloni and also her party - the rest of the CSU leadership followed this with the greatest suspicion. People should “stay away from toxic people,” the party grumbled. All the more exciting is an appointment that Söder is planning in the next few weeks. According to information from our newspaper, Bavaria's head of government is traveling to Rome on May 10th. To meet Meloni.
A government spokesman confirms that the Prime Minister will be traveling in this capacity. On the two-day trip to Rome there will also be an audience with Pope Francis and a visit to Pope Benedict's grave in St. Peter's Basilica.
Markus Söder in Rome: Well, now Meloni?
Well, now Meloni? The radical ones? The journey is undoubtedly spicy, but also politically exciting. In Söder's environment it is made clear that it is about a state visit, not a party appointment. Just as Söder recently sought contact with some rulers of southern and southeastern Europe in order to represent Bavaria's interests, he is now continuing this in Rome.
As a reminder: The meeting with the Albanian Edi Rama was also a state matter, not a party matter; Rama is a proud socialist. Meloni is likely to be about, among other things, migration and the construction of a hydrogen pipeline across the Alps. Both topics that Chancellor Olaf Scholz also discussed with her in Rome in November.
The core of the dispute over Weber/Meloni is more of a strategic party question. The CSU deputy would like to break the Meloni party “Fratelli d'Italia” away from the right-wing extremist spectrum and bring it closer to the Christian Democratic EPP in Europe. As early as 2023, he confirmed that Meloni was acting “constructively”, clearly pro-Ukrainian, and at a distance from Europe critics such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Her government's refugee pact with Albania, which could curb smuggling crime and the sea rescue dispute in the Mediterranean, is also seen positively in the CDU/CSU parties.
Italy: Meloni has moved towards the center since taking office
Last week there was a big step: In the European Parliament, the Italian MPs from party leader Meloni and the “Lega” secured a majority for the EU's big asylum pact at the last minute. They voted with Weber's Christian Democrats. Against the other radical right-wing forces, whose faction (“ID”) they actually belong to.
Weber then spoke of “civil middle” and “civil rights”. All observers confirm that Meloni has moved towards the center since taking office. Experts disagree about whether you can rely on it. However, her party will probably become even more important in Europe. Polls predict that the “Fratelli” will at least double in the June election. Meanwhile, Lega leader Mattheo Salvini, one of Meloni's coalition partners in Rome, is falling in the polls.
Söder receives second private audience with Pope Francis
Part two of Söder's trip, the audience with the Pope, will certainly be politically less dangerous. It is his second private audience in office after 2018. The meeting at that time was very harmonious, but left one papal wish unfulfilled. Francis is said to have said to the guest gift (gift baskets with gingerbread, chocolate and a donation check): “What, from Bavaria and no beer?”