The Court of Auditors rejects the Strait Bridge: what happens now?

The stop to the Bridge over the Strait of Messina comes from the Court of Auditors and triggers a new institutional clash. The accounting magistrates decided not to grant legitimacy to the resolution of the Cipess, the inter-ministerial committee for economic planning and sustainable development, which approved the final project of the work last August.

Cipess is the government body that evaluates and finances strategic public investments. Made up of the Prime Minister and several ministers, it has the task of ensuring that major works comply with economic, environmental and sustainability criteria. But, according to the Court, precisely this “political” nature raises a question of competence: can a government body certify the legitimacy of a 13.5 billion euro project?

The official reasons will arrive within 30 days, but the findings are already serious. The accounting judges report problems with the financial coverage, with the traffic estimates that justify the investment, with the project’s compliance with environmental and anti-seismic regulations, and with compliance with European rules that prohibit the doubling of initial costs.

The executive’s reaction was immediate. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of “yet another act of invasion of jurisdiction over the choices of the Government and Parliament”. According to him, the ministries responded promptly to all the findings, and some complaints were “specious”, such as the one on the digital transmission of documents. Meloni also links the matter to the reform of justice and the Court of Auditors being discussed in the Senate, defining them “the response to an intolerable intrusiveness”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Matteo Salvini raises his tone: “The decision is a serious damage to the country and appears political. It is a project also supported by Europe, which will bring jobs and development. We will not stop”. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says he is “astonished”: “It is unacceptable that in a democracy the accounting judiciary decides which strategic works to carry out”.

But the Court’s rejection does not automatically block the project. The law allows the Government, in the event of refusal of registration, to request a new examination from the Council of Ministers, which can declare the act “of superior public interest” and proceed anyway, even with a “conditional approval”. In this case, however, the Court reports the decision to Parliament, leaving open political responsibility for the executive.

Opposition to the attack: “A blow to legality and the environment”

Harsh accusations come from the opposition. The secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, claims that “Meloni wants to put himself above the laws and the Constitution”. For PD group leader Anthony Barbagallo, the Court’s decision is “a slap in the face that the Government cannot ignore”. The 5 Stars speak of “game over”: “The economic and environmental flaws are insurmountable, stop this unwatchable soap opera”, declares the deputy Agostino Santillo. “Salvini resigns,” tweeted Angelo Bonelli, AVS MP.

For his part, Pietro Ciucci, CEO of the “Stretto di Messina” company, defends the process: “Everything took place in full compliance with Italian and European regulations. We are awaiting the reasons.”

What happens now

In the next few days the Court will make known the complete reasons for the rejection. At that point the Government will be able to choose whether to modify the contested resolution or ask the Council of Ministers to proceed anyway, invoking the public interest. In this case, the Court of Auditors will be able to give a “conditional approval”, reporting the decision to Parliament.

The project is not formally blocked, but enters a politically delicate phase: every step forward will have to be justified as a choice of general interest, while assuming full responsibility before the country and Parliament.