Forza Italia’s civil war is far from over

Italy’s moderate center-right party, Forza Italia, is facing a stormy internal battle. Following the referendum defeat on justice reform, tensions are running high over party strategy, leadership, and the direction of the parliamentary groups. This week, party secretary Antonio Tajani is set to meet Marina Berlusconi, heir to the party’s founding family, in a bid to bridge widening rifts within the light-blue factions.

The drama is heightened by the Barelli question. Paolo Barelli, Forza Italia’s floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies, could be the next high-profile casualty in the party’s ongoing shake-up. After the removal of Maurizio Gasparri in the Senate, backed by the Berlusconi family and the internal minority, whispers of Barelli’s replacement are now circulating, with some deputies reportedly gathering signatures to push for change. No decision has been made yet, but the stakes are high.

Barelli, a longtime Tajani ally, is more than just a figure in the parliamentary group, his position has become a symbol of the party’s struggle between tradition and reform. The internal push for change signals a hunger for renewal, even as the leadership tries to maintain unity and stability.

Tajani has called for prudent management of the shake-up, warning that rash decisions could fracture the party. “If we want to shake things up, let’s do it together,” he said, stressing the need to coordinate with Marina Berlusconi to avoid further sparks.

The minority, meanwhile, is not holding back. Beyond the battle over parliamentary leadership, they are pressing to halt regional congresses, which they see as a tool to cement the current leadership and curb the influence of emerging voices within the party.

In the end, the Barelli showdown is more than just a personnel issue. It embodies the fight between the old guard and reformist currents, with the outcome poised to determine whether Forza Italia emerges renewed and united, or fractured and weakened.

Klevis Gjoka