EDATV Matteo Salvini proposes Italy's exit from the WHO following Donald Trump's announcement
The proposal comes after Donald Trump announced the United States's withdrawal from the organization.
Italy's Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, proposed a bill for the country to leave the WHO, following the United States.
Salvini presented the bill in the Chamber of Deputies, asserting that Italy must stop funding the WHO with public resources.
The proposal comes after Donald Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the organization, generating global reactions.
The WHO froze hiring in anticipation of the lack of funds following the United States' departure, which contributes 15% of its budget.
The WHO's budget for 2024-2025, set at 6.830 billion dollars, will be affected by the withdrawal of these key contributions.
Italy has donated 66 million euros to the WHO in 2024-2025, of which 34 million correspond to mandatory membership fees.
Salvini argued that Italian funds allocated to the WHO should be redirected to finance hospitals and doctors within Italy.
"Italy must not continue funding a supranational power center aligned with pharmaceutical companies," declared Salvini in his proposal.
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, hasn't officially commented on the bill pushed by Matteo Salvini.
The European Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi, has also not commented on the implications of this proposal for Italy.
The former EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, expressed concern following Trump's announcement about the US leaving the WHO.
Kyriakides urged that the United States' decision be reconsidered, highlighting its impact on the health of millions of people worldwide.
According to Salvini, the WHO doesn't represent national interests and must be reformed to eliminate its dependency on funding from key states.
Salvini's bill seeks to be debated in the coming weeks, although it is unclear if it will have majority support in Parliament.
Analysts highlight that Italy's exit could have consequences for international cooperation on public health issues.
The future of Salvini's proposal will depend on the stance of the government led by Meloni and political alliances in Italy.
Salvini's proposal adds to the international debate on the effectiveness and transparency of multilateral organizations like the WHO.
The debate intensifies as countries reconsider their financial contributions to international organizations to prioritize local policies.
The WHO hasn't yet issued an official statement regarding the announcement of the bill in Italy and its possible consequences.
Meanwhile, Italy prepares for a potential political confrontation over the country's role in international organizations.
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