August 27, 2025 – Rimini, Italy
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini reignited the long-debated plan for a bridge over the Strait of Messina during a speech at the annual Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini on Tuesday, boldly declaring, “It will take seven years, but we will really do it.” Addressing a crowd of supporters and business leaders, Salvini emphasized the project’s potential to boost Italy’s economy and connectivity between the mainland and Sicily, framing it as a symbol of the Meloni government’s commitment to infrastructure and national unity. The announcement, made amid ongoing controversies over funding and feasibility, has sparked renewed debate, with proponents hailing it as a game-changer for the South while critics decry it as an expensive vanity project prone to corruption and delays.
Salvini’s Pitch: Economic Boost and Timeline Commitment
Speaking at the Rimini event, a key gathering for Italy’s conservative and Catholic communities, Salvini outlined a concrete timeline for the Strait Bridge, a 3.3-kilometer suspension bridge proposed since the 1960s but repeatedly stalled by political shifts, environmental concerns, and mafia infiltration fears. “The first stone will be laid soon—I can’t wait,” Salvini stated, according to reports from La Sicilia. He projected a seven-year completion window, aligning with the latest engineering estimates from the Stretto di Messina society, which envisions the bridge connecting Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina in Sicily at a cost of around €13 billion.
Salvini highlighted the bridge’s macroeconomic benefits, arguing it would “increase the GDP of the entire country” by improving logistics, tourism, and freight transport. “This isn’t just a bridge; it’s a link to the future for Sicily and the South,” he said, tying the project to the government’s broader infrastructure agenda, including high-speed rail extensions and port modernizations. The League leader’s enthusiasm comes after the Meloni cabinet allocated €1.3 billion in the 2025 budget for preliminary works, with full funding secured through EU recovery funds and private partnerships.
The Rimini speech was part of Salvini’s broader address on economic recovery, where he criticized past governments—particularly the Five Star Movement under Giuseppe Conte—for shelving the project in 2013 amid fiscal austerity. Salvini’s relaunch positions the bridge as a counter to regional disparities, potentially creating 10,000 jobs and reducing travel times across the strait from hours by ferry to minutes by rail or road.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
The Strait Bridge has been a political football in Italy for decades, first conceptualized in 1869 but facing multiple cancellations. Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right coalition revived it in 2001, only for it to be halted by the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent left-leaning administrations. Under Meloni’s Brothers of Italy-led coalition since 2022, the project gained traction in 2023 with the approval of a final design featuring the world’s longest suspension span at 3,300 meters.
Recent milestones include the July 2025 parliamentary green light for environmental impact assessments and the appointment of a new commissioner to oversee anti-mafia controls, following scandals in earlier bids. Salvini’s Rimini comments build on these, promising “transparency and speed” to address past criticisms. However, the seven-year timeline assumes no major delays, a optimistic projection given historical precedents like the MOSE flood barriers in Venice, which ballooned from €1.6 billion to over €6 billion.
Reactions: Enthusiasm vs. Skepticism
Salvini’s announcement was met with applause at the Rimini Meeting, where attendees praised the vision for southern development. Business groups like Confindustria echoed support, estimating a 1.5% GDP uplift for Sicily alone. On social media, pro-government users celebrated with posts like “Finally, action over words!” from La Stampa’s coverage.
Opposition voices were swift to criticize. The Democratic Party (PD) labeled it “propaganda,” pointing to the €100,000 spent on a promotional video game showcased at Rimini as a “supercazzola” (nonsense). Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte reiterated environmental concerns, warning of seismic risks in the strait and potential ecological damage to marine habitats. Sicilian activists, including those from the No Bridge Committee, argued that funds should prioritize existing infrastructure like roads and hospitals, citing past corruption probes that implicated organized crime in related contracts.
Regional leaders in Calabria and Sicily expressed mixed views: While some welcomed the jobs, others, like Calabria’s opposition councilors, decried it as a “waste” amid neglected local needs. International observers, including EU officials, have urged rigorous oversight to ensure compliance with green deal standards, given Italy’s €191 billion in post-COVID recovery allocations.
Social media buzz on X reflected the divide, with hashtags #PonteDelloStretto and #SalviniRimini trending. One post from La Sicilia highlighted Salvini’s eagerness: “Ponte sullo Stretto, Salvini: ‘A breve la prima pietra, non vedo l’ora’.” Critics, however, resurfaced older controversies, such as allegations of lax anti-mafia checks in government decrees, though Salvini dismissed them as “fake news.”
Looking Ahead: Feasibility and Political Stakes
With design contracts awarded to Italian firms like Webuild and Stretto di Messina’s board reconstituted, preparatory works could begin by late 2025. Salvini’s seven-year pledge sets a high bar, but experts like engineer Michele Melis warn of challenges including geological surveys and funding gaps. Success could solidify the League’s southern base ahead of 2027 elections, while failure risks amplifying accusations of mismanagement.
As Italy grapples with economic pressures, including EU deficit rules, the bridge remains a litmus test for Meloni’s infrastructure ambitions. For now, Salvini’s Rimini relaunch has injected fresh momentum into the decades-old dream, promising to bridge not just waters but divides—if it can navigate the political and practical straits ahead.
This article is based on recent reports from Italian media and social media discussions as of August 27, 2025. For the latest updates, follow sources like La Stampa or La Sicilia.