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Italian government Clashes with Court of Auditors Over Strait of Messina Bridge Project
Rome, Italy – November 9, 2023 – The Italian government is embroiled in a fierce dispute with the Court of Auditors over it’s approval of the long-planned Strait of Messina Bridge project. The Court refused to register a key deliberation (Cipess) approving the project, sparking a political firestorm with the government vowing to proceed despite the opposition. The decision, made public today, has ignited a debate over executive power, financial oversight, and the future of infrastructure growth in Italy.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni swiftly condemned the Court’s decision, characterizing it as an overreach of its authority. “The failure to register the Cipess deliberation by the Court of Auditors is yet another act of invasion of jurisdiction over the choices of the Government and Parliament,” she stated. Meloni further criticized the Court’s scrutiny, pointing to objections over the method of submitting extensive documentation – specifically, the use of hyperlinks – as evidence of a lack of understanding of modern technology.
Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini echoed Meloni’s sentiments, labeling the Court’s decision a “political choice” and a “serious damage to the country.” Salvini assured supporters that the project would move forward nonetheless. Foreign Minister and fellow Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his “astonishment,” arguing that it is indeed “unacceptable for the accounting judiciary to decide which strategic works should be carried out” in a democratic nation.
Opposition parties have seized on the controversy. Elly Schlein, leader of the democratic Party (Pd), accused Meloni of attempting to “place herself above the laws and the constitution,” suggesting the dispute reveals the true intent behind the government’s proposed constitutional reforms. Pietro Ciucci, CEO of the Strait of messina company, defended the project’s adherence to both Italian and European regulations, stating that “the entire process followed has always been carried out in full compliance with the general and special rules.”
Environmental groups celebrated the Court’s decision. Angelo Bonelli, leader of Avs, a prominent opponent of the bridge, hailed it as a “great victory for the rule of law” and called for Salvini’s resignation. Marco Simiani, a Pd representative on the Chamber of environment Committee, condemned Salvini’s attacks on the Court, urging him to “take responsibility for his own actions.”
Despite the Court’s negative assessment, the government retains the legal authority to continue with the project. According to the Court itself, in cases where a government act is rejected, the administration can appeal to the Council of Ministers, which can then decide if the act serves overriding public interests. If the Court maintains its opposition, it can issue a “visa with reservation” to the deliberation, triggering a parliamentary review.As the Court’s website explains, “The act registered with reservation becomes fully effective, but may give rise to a political responsibility of the government” as the Court periodically reports such cases to Parliament.
The Court’s concerns centered on several key areas, including financial guarantees, the reliability of traffic projections, compliance with environmental and seismic regulations, and adherence to European rules regarding cost overruns – specifically, exceeding a 50% increase in the initial budget. Counsel Carmela Mirabella reportedly raised questions about the Cipess’s authority, characterizing it as a “political” body. The Court’s mandate focuses on financial and procedural correctness, not a comprehensive evaluation of the project’s overall merit.
during a heated question time in the Chamber of Deputies, Salvini stated that the Court of Auditors had referred the evaluation to its central control section, but emphasized that this decision does not alter the november 7th deadline for registration. He reiterated that the work completed thus far has been “serious, articulated, and obvious,” respecting both Italian and European standards, and that there were “no violations, no withdrawal of the Cipess deliberation.” This assertion was immediately challenged by Bonelli, who questioned the project’s €13.5 billion price tag and labeled the design “26 years old.”
The future of the Strait of Messina Bridge remains uncertain, but the current standoff underscores the complex interplay between political ambition, financial oversight, and legal challenges in italy’s infrastructure landscape.