Strasbourg witnessed a significant divergence among political groups as the European Parliament approved a report on the implementation of the EU's security and defense policy with 399 votes in favor, 198 against, and 71 abstentions.

Central to the report is a reaffirmation of support for Ukraine and a renewed emphasis on the European rearmament agenda.

The Democratic Party (PD) and Forza Italia voted in favor of the text, while the Five Star Movement and the League aligned in opposition.

The Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, chose to abstain, indicating a complex position within the coalition government.

Carlo Fidanza, the group leader from Brothers of Italy, cited criticism of the American administration as part of the rationale behind their abstention.

This move sparked sharp rebuke from Democratic Party member Irene Tinagli, who asserted that the Prime Minister cannot navigate conflicts between Europe and the United States while maintaining a credible leadership role.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attempted to downplay the discord, stating that differing positions on Europe are acceptable within the coalition, yet this perspective was met with backlash from various factions within the PD.

Nicola Zingaretti from the Democratic Party expressed concern that such disunity could undermine Italy’s international reputation.

The group's Europarliament leader later issued a joint statement affirming that a divided majority weakens Italy.

Throughout the day, the PD, which many expected to exhibit notable divisions, remained largely unified, save for two independents, Marco Tarquinio and Cecilia Strada.

They voted unanimously in favor of the overall report and the accompanying European rearmament plan proposed by Ursula von der Leyen.

However, the PD had also initially opposed an amendment from a European People's Party (PPE) member that sought to formally incorporate the rearmament agenda into the document.

Despite this initial opposition, some prominent PD figures, including Pina Picierno, Giorgio Gori, and Elisabetta Gualmini expressed support for the rearmament strategy and later voted in favor of the final report, thereby aligning with the broader position of the Socialists and Democrats in favor of the defense policy.

As tensions related to internal party dynamics escalated, members close to PD leader Elly Schlein attempted to underscore their opposition to the PPE amendment, although this vote was not recorded in the official tabulation.

Conversely, the subsequent agreement to support the final text is documented, heightening intra-party tensions as reformist elements within the PD criticized the conflicting narratives being presented.

Lorenzo Guerini, reflecting a reformist stance, remarked on the importance of voting in favor of the final document in alignment with the European Socialists, highlighting a notable shift towards a unified position on defense issues despite internal disagreements.

In the hours that followed, supporters of Schlein issued multiple statements emphasizing their concerns over confusion in public discourse about the party’s stance on rearmament.

Reformist members, including Picierno, criticized this tendency to obscure the party’s message and asserted that the final text’s endorsement was a substantial achievement for the group.

The evening concluded with lingering dissatisfaction expressed by Tinagli regarding the internal positioning that disrupted the perception of the PD's unity.

Calenda remarked on the need for clarity in light of the current political landscape, emphasizing the importance of addressing foundational issues within the party's foreign policy approach.