"I am that bitch"... Italian Prime Minister glares at governor who insulted him

Appointment of Governor Who Called Someone 'Amkae' Three Months Ago
Governor 'Embarrassed'... Gives Evasive Answer with a Stern Expression

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni got back at Vincenzo De Luca, the governor of Campania, for the insult he made.

Vincenzo De Luca, Governor of Campania (left), being stared at by Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy (right). [Image source=Captured from ANSA, Italy]

On the 28th (local time), Italian media including ANSA reported that Prime Minister Meloni attended the opening ceremony of a sports center held in the southern city of Caivano and took revenge on Governor De Luca. At the opening ceremony, Meloni met Governor De Luca and extended her hand for a handshake. Meloni, who offered her hand first, greeted him by saying, "Governor De Luca, I am that bitch Meloni. How have you been?" Governor De Luca, taken aback, responded with a stiff expression, "Welcome. I am healthy," giving an irrelevant answer.

This was a jab at an incident in February when Governor De Luca called Meloni a "bitch" (stronza, which translates to "bitch" in English) while talking to reporters outside the Chamber of Deputies. A member of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), he strongly opposed the Local Autonomy Act, which grants more financial management authority to local governments. When Meloni refused a meeting request, saying, "Spend more time working instead of protesting," De Luca insulted her by saying, "You need money to work. You work, bitch."

Meloni did not forget this and delivered a 'blow' to Governor De Luca three months later. The ruling party led by Meloni, the first female prime minister in Italian history, Brothers of Italy (FdI), posted a video of the two meeting on their official social media account and added, "Giorgia is teaching us about life."

Meanwhile, Caivano is the place where, in July last year, two children aged 11 and 13 were gang-raped by six male teenagers. In August of the same year, Meloni visited Caivano and promised the residents that the government would devote all its efforts to prevent similar incidents from recurring. After the sports center, the site of the incident, was renovated, Meloni stated, "We will make the state overcome and triumph over organized crime, corruption, and resignation," adding, "Of course, it is not an easy mission, but that is what the Italian people expect from us and what we must do."