Overview

• Luigi Sbarra was sworn in at Palazzo Chigi as undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council for the South, taking over the portfolio vacated by Raffaele Fitto’s move to the European Commission.
• The former Cisl secretary general joins the Meloni government as an independent after stepping down in February due to age limits.
• During his four-year tenure at Cisl, Sbarra pursued more conciliatory stances than Cgil and Uil on labor reforms and declined to support the 2025 general strike.
• Opposition parties Pd, M5S and Avs denounced his elevation as a “reward for loyalty,” warning it blurs the line between union leadership and government influence.
• The government says Sbarra’s expertise and relationships will strengthen efforts to improve employment, cohesion and economic growth in southern Italy.