The majority in Italy is one thing, the majority in Europe is another. This is, in short, the explanation that the three government parties have given to motivate the “split” that occurred during the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. Matteo Salvini claims the no of the League, defining the Ursula bis as “a slap in the face to democracy, a great deal of power, positions, perks, based on economic interests”. The head of the delegation of Fratelli d’Italia in Strasbourg Carlo Fidanza explained how the vote against by the conservatives of Ecr “is consistent with the position of Giorgia Meloni at the European Council of June 27” and is justified “by the speech close to the demands of the left given in Parliament (by von der Leyen, ed.)”. A harmony, that between Fdi and Lega, that Salvini underlined: “I am happy with the compactness between Lega and Fdi. We texted with Meloni after the vote, we are in total harmony”.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was left out of this round of calls: «I haven’t heard from them (Meloni and Salvini, ed.)» he declared. The secretary of the Forza Italia party revealed that he was hoping «for a yes from FdI and Lega» (since von der Leyen is the leading candidate of the EPP, the European group to which FI belongs) but that «being part of different European families or having voted differently for von der Leyen will have no repercussions on the stability of the government» and «on the coalition». Each vote, Tajani continued, «in the community institutions corresponds to a diversified majority: one in the Council, one for the presidency of the Parliament, another for the vice-presidents of the Parliament». However, he then made sure to specify that «if we have to backtrack, we will». But what are the reasons that led the government coalition to take different paths? The leader of the Lega party identifies the Green Deal as the biggest obstacle. “There is a precise anti-European and anti-Italian strategy, Italian families are being brought to their knees, I wonder if the green house policy will go ahead – he explained – with 50 thousand euros to be paid out to each Italian family and if the car policy will go ahead”. Salvini’s strategy is clear, especially after the entry of the League into Orban’s Patriots group, to stay in opposition hoping that the “very weak majority” will crash on the main dossiers. “I want to see the Populars reach an agreement on immigration and taxes with the Greens” who are “Greens on the outside, but reds on the inside, they are basically communists in disguise”.
Tajani explained that support for von der Leyen was necessary because “stability was needed”. Forza Italia senator Gasparri gave an interpretation of the Prime Minister’s no: “Meloni thought about some short-term effects” and “that she could be overtaken by Salvini in the propaganda” but “she should have made a more courageous choice”. Also because “when Giorgetti has to negotiate the Stability Law, he will have to do it with Europe. So we have to be in Europe”. The conservatives’ choice was clear: a no to yet another majority that sees the Popular Party, Socialists and Liberals together. Also because the belief within FdI is that yesterday’s vote will have no consequences in the assignment of commissioners. A certainty that Minister Fitto (one of the possible names to be the commissioner) also reiterated: “Yesterday’s vote does not imply any change in approach with respect to the subsequent steps”. In the meantime, Meloni continues negotiations.
#Backtrack #Tempo
2024-07-23 13:01:07
