Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appeared on the Pulp podcast hosted by Fedez and Mr Marra. The conversation ranged from global security to domestic politics, with Meloni pushing a clear message: the upcoming referendum on justice should not be turned into a vote about her government.

On international tensions and Iran

Meloni warned of a broader crisis in international law marked by unilateral moves and unpredictable choices. On the specific question about US claims concerning Iran, she was cautious. She said she has no elements to confirm or deny what the Americans say about Iran, and therefore Italy continues to try to reach an agreement that would limit Iran to civilian uses of nuclear technology.

Pressured on the moral framing, she added that the point is not simply whether you prefer war or peace. Meloni argued that declaring Italy condemns a hypothetical US attack on Iran would be risky for Italians rather than Americans. As prime minister, she said she must make more complex safety assessments for the country.

The referendum and the 'no' front

Speaking about the justice referendum, Meloni switched from an informal tone to a formal one and apologized for the change. She accused the no campaign of trying to turn the vote into a referendum against her government rather than focusing on the proposed reform.

Her core claim: voting no as a tactic to remove the government is a trap. She urged those who dislike her to consider the substance of the reform. If someone opposes her but supports the changes, she suggested voting yes now and, if desired, political choices can be expressed later at the ballot box.

Meloni described the reform as intentionally simple so citizens can understand it. She framed the referendum as a set of clear questions: do you want more merit, do you want to free the High Council of the Judiciary from political influence, do you want more efficiency?

She will not resign if 'no' wins

Meloni stated she does not plan to resign even if the referendum result goes against the reform. She said she intends to complete her term, finish the work she set out to do, and let Italians judge her overall record at the appropriate time. She warned that voting no just to remove her would leave both her in office and a justice system that does not work better.

Behind the scenes: microphone hiccup and edits

During the podcast recording there was a short technical interruption when a microphone placement issue briefly obscured Meloni's face. She asked if there was a problem and complained about the pause, using a Roman expression as she asked to finish her thought.

After the episode, the program posted three screens clarifying that there were no editorial cuts affecting the substance of the discussion, only technical edits for camera changes or external interruptions. The show said it can provide the full footage to any authority that wishes to verify what was aired. They also noted that topic outlines were agreed in advance, but specific questions and follow-ups were reactive and not scripted.

What stayed clear

  • Meloni emphasized caution on foreign intelligence claims and continued diplomatic efforts with Iran.
  • She insisted the referendum is about judicial reform, not a vote about her personally.
  • She will remain in office if the referendum fails and will complete her term.
  • The podcast team said no substantive content was cut from the episode, only technical trims.

These were the main takeaways from a podcast appearance that mixed international concerns, domestic politics, and the occasional soundcheck frustration.