The former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has harshly criticized Giorgia Meloni for the management of the diplomatic clash opened with Spain after the migration crisis in Ceuta.
In a message published on social media, Renzi accuses the Italian Prime Minister of breaking European solidarity to follow a propaganda strategy linked to the hardest sectors of the Italian right.
"Giorgia Meloni breaks European solidarity to pursue Vannacci's propaganda", Renzi wrote, referring to the general and MEP Roberto Vannacci, a figure associated with the most nationalist wing of the Italian conservative bloc.
"The Spaniards also close Schengen"
Renzi argues that the Italian decision has provoked a direct response from Spain. "Consequence: the Spaniards also close Schengen", he states in his message.
The phrase alludes to the re-establishment of border controls by Spain on travelers coming from Italy, a measure adopted after Rome activated its own controls on passengers arriving from Spanish territory. The clash has once again placed the European area of free movement at the center of the political debate.
Germany and the migrants returned to Italy
The former Italian Prime Minister also links Meloni's actions to another consequence for his country: that Germany returns migrants who had already left Italy.
According to Renzi, the result of this chain of decisions is that "the Italians suffer the consequences." His criticism is therefore not limited to the bilateral relationship with Spain, but points to a broader deterioration of Italy's position within the European Union.
"When you act as an influencer and not as a statesman"
Renzi has accused Meloni of acting more as a propaganda figure than as a state leader. "When you act as an influencer and not as a statesman, you gain one point more in the polls the first week, but you create a disaster for your citizens," he noted.
With that phrase, the Italian leader summarizes his political reproach: Meloni would have sought an immediate benefit in terms of public opinion, hardening the discourse on borders and migration, but at the cost of generating practical problems for Italy in its relations with other European partners.
"What an own goal by the Prime Minister"
The message from Renzi concludes with a direct accusation against the head of the Italian Government. "What an own goal by the Prime Minister," he stated, before adding that, "with all the problems in the world," Italy should not "harm itself as well."
The criticism comes amid heightened tension between Rome and Madrid over the border controls activated after the massive influx of people in Ceuta and in response to the calls detected on social media for a possible new attempt on August 15.
The Ceuta crisis opens a political front in Italy
Renzi's position reflects that the Ceuta crisis has not only generated tension between Spain and Italy but also internal debate in Italian politics. While Meloni's Government defends the measure as a decision for security and border protection, the opposition presents it as a propaganda maneuver with counterproductive effects.
For Renzi, the Italian response has weakened European cooperation and has led to reciprocal measures that complicate the situation for Italian citizens themselves. His message turns the episode into a fundamental reproach against Meloni's political style and against the use of migration as a tool for internal confrontation.
Schengen, propaganda, and cost for citizens
The clash brings back to the table a central issue in the European Union: to what extent can internal controls be used as a political response to localized migration crises.
Renzi argues that European solidarity must be preserved and that turning Schengen into a propaganda battleground ultimately harms those it aims to protect. In his view, Meloni has sought to take a stand against Spain and against immigration, but has ended up creating a bigger problem for Italy.