Italy’s Court of Auditors has rejected authorization for the government’s €13.5 billion plan to build a bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, triggering a fierce response from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The court—which oversees public spending—refused to register the decision and said it would provide its reasoning within 30 days. Meloni condemned the move as “an encroachment on the government’s authority,” vowing that the project “will not stop.”
Deputy PM Matteo Salvini, who has championed the bridge, called the court’s action “a political choice.” The bridge—set to be the world’s longest suspension structure—is intended to boost southern Italy’s economy, which has consistently lagged behind the mainland, but has faced criticism over environmental concerns and high costs.
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