Andrea Stroppa, a Musk lobbyist, has accused the Italian government of conspiring against Starlink through controversial amendments in the Space Bill. However, ruling parties have dismissed these claims as “completely unfounded,” asserting that the approved amendments simply reinforce national security and industrial return principles
Amendments under scrutiny. The ruling parties in Italy have dismissed allegations by Andrea Stroppa—Italy’s representative for Elon Musk—as “completely unfounded.”
- Stroppa took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse the government of a bipartisan conspiracy between Fratelli d’Italia, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, alleging that such a plot was designed to harm Starlink, Musk’s satellite company.
What happened. Stroppa’s criticism centres on two amendments to the Space Bill currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies’ Productive Activities Committee.
- These amendments, drafted by the Democratic Party with input from other opposition groups and approved by the majority, introduce two key criteria in selecting satellite communication technologies: safeguarding national security and ensuring an industrial return for Italy.
- A third amendment, which proposed favouring European or NATO technologies, was rejected.
Fact-checking it. Andrea Mascaretti, a Fratelli d’Italia MP and rapporteur on the Space Bill, stated:
- “No amendments have been approved either against or in favour of anyone.”
- He emphasised that the unanimously approved amendments do not introduce anything new but merely reinforce pre-existing principles of national security and industrial return.
- Mascaretti also noted that an ‘anti-Musk’ amendment by the Democratic Party was rejected by all majority parties.
- It is also worth noting that Starlink’s engagement with Italy—mainly through its interactions with Leonardo, the Italian aerospace and defence giant—predates the inauguration of the Trump administration, where Musk holds a significant advisory role.
Legislative path forward. The revised draft of the bill is expected to progress from the Committee to the Chamber of Deputies next week, with the two Democratic Party amendments reformulated by the majority.
- The new text stipulates that satellite systems will be managed exclusively by European Union or NATO entities, thereby ensuring national security and an adequate industrial return for Italy’s economy.
A history of controversy. Stroppa is no stranger to making contentious outbursts against the Meloni government.
- Recently, he has taken to social media to call for the removal of Interior Minister Piantedosi, proposing his replacement by Lega leader Matteo Salvini.
- In previous weeks, he even indirectly targeted the Quirinale by requesting President Sergio Mattarella’s private number and criticising the warnings issued by the head of state, who cautioned against the risks of entrusting critical national security tasks to “Third Millennium’s neo-feudatories” and “new corsairs” claiming they can manage space.
- Stroppa is also among those under investigation by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office in the case that led to the arrest of Paolino Iorio, the director general of Sogei—a state-owned company providing IT services for the Italian government.
- The investigation, which involves charges of corruption and bid rigging, alleges that Stroppa received an internal document from the Foreign Ministry through a Navy officer, who is also under investigation.
- In January, Paolino Iorio, former director general of Sogei, requested a plea bargain for a three-year sentence of community service.
