In this edition of Europe Rendezvous, we travel to Italy, one of the European Union's founding members, to examine how the country's democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure. It may be the season of la dolce vita, but life has been far from sweet for migrants, women seeking abortions in parts of Italy, and journalists facing growing political pressure on the media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leads a coalition of conservatives and the far right, and as the 2027 elections approach, her government has been accused of seeking greater influence over the judiciary, the media and the electoral system.

In part two, we speak with Antonio Tajani, one of Italy's most experienced politicians and a longtime ally of the late Silvio Berlusconi. Italy's foreign minister and deputy prime minister in Giorgia Meloni's coalition government, Tajani leads the conservative Forza Italia party. We discuss the major geopolitical challenges facing Italy, as well as the strains that have emerged in Meloni's relationship with US President Donald Trump.

We also meet Ylenja Lucaselli, a member of parliament from Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, to discuss one of the country's most contentious issues: access to abortion. Although abortion is legal in Italy, the widespread use of the conscientious objection clause by medical professionals has made access increasingly unequal, leaving women in some parts of the country with little or no practical access to the procedure.

On the other side of the political spectrum is Sandro Gozi, an Italian MEP elected in France on the Renew Europe ticket. He argues that Meloni has steered Italy in an increasingly illiberal direction, citing restrictions on civil rights, growing political pressure on the media, and plans to reform the electoral system by introducing a majority bonus that would award extra parliamentary seats to the winning coalition ahead of the 2027 general election. The proposal has already passed the lower house but has yet to secure approval in the Senate.

Finally, Luke Brown reports on another defining issue of Meloni's premiership: migration. Her tough stance on immigration helped propel her to victory in the 2022 general election, and her government later opened a controversial migrant processing centre in Albania. Yet her approach has also been shaped by economic realities. Responding to pressure from employers facing labour shortages, the government has approved an additional half a million work visas for the 2026–2028 period. Meanwhile, migration remains deeply divisive. The death of a Moroccan-born man in Bologna in July, after he was restrained by police, sparked protests and renewed debate over policing and migrants' rights.

Editor-in-Chief: Caroline de Camaret

Presented by Armen Georgian. Produced by Renaud Lefort.

Visual direction and Camera: Stéphane Bodenne and Renaud Lefort.

Reports by Luke Brown and Renaud Lefort.

"Europe Rendezvous" is a magazine programme broadcast on FRANCE 24 in English, on YouTube and on france24.com.

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