Salvini: joining EPP ‘not on the agenda’

Lega’s entry into the European People’s Party (EPP) is not on the agenda amid differences on key issues, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini told The T before adding that he will continue to work for an agreement of the centre-right parties in Brussels.

Salvini cooled down rumours about Lega possibly joining the European People’s Party (EPP), in addition to the tentativeness of his party’s top exponents on belonging to the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament.

However, he added: “I continue to work for an agreement between all centre-right parties in Brussels to make some battles more incisive”.

Salvini predictably rejected the axis between the EPP and the Socialists, which he “does not believe appeals to moderate and centre-right voters”, and questioned the EPP on the key issues dear to the right in Italy.

“What does the EPP think of surrogate motherhood? Which I think is an abomination. Or the restrictions in the automotive sector that bring European companies and workers to their knees? Lega will weigh its consensus”, Salvini clarified.

This was also a response to Silvio Berlusconi’s words in an interview with Il Giornale, where he explained that he saw liberals and conservatives as possible allies of the Populars (EPP) to guarantee a centre-right majority in Europe that would give “new impetus to the functioning of the European institutions”.

“Of course, I consider it indispensable that our Italian allies are in this game. Whether inside or outside the EPP, they must decide first of all”, ex-Prime Minister and Forza Italia (EPP) leader stressed.

In an interview with EURACTIV, Foreign Minister and former President of the EU Parliament Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia/EPP) described as “important” the continuation of the dialogue between the ECR and the EPP, which “despite being different forces, already often vote together in the European Parliament”.

The story is different, however, with regard to Identity and Democracy (ID), to which Salvini’s Lega belongs together with his close ally Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National), who Tajani dismissed with firm words.

“No extremism, we have nothing to do with Marine Le Pen”, the minister and deputy prime minister said during the last Forza Italia convention in Milan.

“I was not elected with her votes. We were elected with the votes of moderates and conservatives and not with hers. Giorgia Meloni is the president of the European Conservatives, and Le Pen is not with the Conservatives. She is out of context. We have nothing to do with her. We are Populars”, he said.

To those who asked about the alliance between Le Pen and Salvini, Tajani replied: “It is legitimate, but the centre-right is not linked to Le Pen”.

Words ill-digested by Lega, which, called into question, claimed proximity to the French party.

“We are proudly friends and allies of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, who today represent the first party of France and, above all, do not insult Italy, its government and its citizens”, declared ID group president Marco Zanni and Lega’s head of delegation to the European Parliament Marco Campomenosi.

However, leaked indiscretions from the Lega’s federal council tell of strong indecision in the party regarding ID affiliation, with a fringe group asking to pull out of the group and join the EPP alongside Forza Italia.

“We should get out of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in Europe (…) Lega’s nature is of a government party (…) Yet we are perceived as ‘the Italian friends of the German extremists’”, said Lega deputy secretary and MP Andrea Crippa in an interview released to Il Foglio, referring to the German party AfD.

“That alliance hurts us precisely because it weakens our standing as a governing party”, Crippa explained.

(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)