“No Retaliation” –

“Italy will have an important role in the next EU Commission.” This is what Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Corriere della Sera, regarding Raffaele Fitto’s candidacy for commissioner. “I hope that the opposition will also support him and vote for him because in Europe it is important to have strength as a country, regardless of the party you come from. Berlusconi went to Brussels to support Gentiloni in person.”

And asked if after his talks with Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola he had any guarantees that there would be no “retaliation” for the opposing vote of FdI and Lega, he replied: “I am sure of it. First, because the second party in government, us, voted for von der Leyen and before that, like Prime Minister Meloni, supported the Commission every time it moved in a fair and acceptable way. And it will be the same in the future. Second, because it is not a favor to give us a central role but it is Europe itself that needs Italy. Third, because we will propose a commissioner with great balance and experience, and a pro-European, like Fitto. Finally, because the guiding star of FI is and will remain Europe and transatlantic relations. We are a guarantee, we cannot do without Italy”.