Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has openly defended her friendship with US tech billionaire Elon Musk, asserting that her personal connection with him does not influence her duties as Italy’s leader. Speaking in Parliament, Meloni made it clear that her government remains independent, despite her relationship with Musk, and she emphasized that she would not be swayed by his economic interests.
In a statement that seemed aimed at her political opponents, Meloni posted on social media, “Thanks to Elon Musk, the Democratic Party has finally discovered sovereignty.” She responded to questions about Musk ahead of the European Union summit in Brussels, asserting that it is possible to maintain personal connections with influential figures while still governing with integrity.
Meloni also pointed to the legislative steps her government has taken to regulate private space activities in Italy, making it the first European nation to do so. This move is expected to bring significant foreign investment, including from Musk’s ventures. “I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,” she stated, highlighting that Italy was the first to introduce such legislation in Europe.
The law is designed to attract foreign space companies, with projections estimating up to $7.7 billion in investments by 2026. Meloni has worked closely with Musk to bring investments to Italy, but she also used her speech to criticize previous Italian leaders, who, she said, felt compelled to follow the lead of foreign powers. “Those who thought they had a good relationship with a foreign leader had to slavishly follow what the others did,” she remarked. Emphasizing her stance of independence, Meloni made it clear that, while she maintains good relationships, she answers to no one but the Italian people.
