“One sentence does not undermine the cohesion of the government” – Il Tempo

“The government’s position on Russia is very clear, the Prime Minister reiterated it last night.” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani kept the point when answering a question on Matteo Salvini’s words, speaking on Radio 24. «These are elections which, especially in the occupied areas, are in fact illegitimate, then Vladimir Putin remains president of the Russian Federation, but certainly the democratic model is not the same model as that of Italy and the countries of the European Union, to put it mildly… A somewhat singular democracy”, explained the leader of Forza Italia.

And on any internal differences within the majority, Tajani insists: «It seems to me that everything is clarified at this point… The majority is cohesive, we are united now in the regional elections in Piedmont, in the regional elections in Basilicata, in municipal administrations. It is not a phrase that undermines the cohesion of the center-right, if anything the problems are in the other camp, not in ours. Each political force has positions that may be different – the reasoning – but there is no substantial divergence. In Parliament we have always voted in the same way, the center right has always been absolutely cohesive.”

Tajani then claims space within the coalition: «Where there are Forza Italia candidates, I look at Basilicata and I look at Piedmont, Bardi and Cirio, the centre-right coalition expands its borders. Because no one can say that the Forza Italia candidates have governed badly and furthermore that they are candidates from the moderate area and therefore capable of attracting even moderate forces. There is no agreement at national level, these are local choices. Evidently – the minister’s note – the presidents of Forza Italia are attractive; they are concrete facts, we saw it in Potenza and we see it in Turin because the same thing is happening. The left is divided, the left argues, while the united center-right gathers consensus for good governance.”