Rome (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni states she can still work with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen despite Meloni’s group voting against von der Leyen for a second period.
How Does Meloni React to Opposition Attacks?
Giorgia Meloni has no second opinions. The Prime Minister reacts to the opposition’s attacks and the indictment of having isolated Italy, with a mild tone and resuming her commitment to cooperate with the new EU Commission.
Now that Ursula von der Leyen is approved for another mandate as EU Commission president, Meloni will keep working with her to secure a Commission portfolio with some importance for Italy. In the interview, Meloni ignored claims that the Brothers of Italy’s vote against von der Leyen could prevent Italy’s chances for a significant portfolio or even an executive vice president position. “I think this reading is surreal,” Meloni stated.
Why Did Meloni’s Party Oppose von der Leyen?
Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy, stated that they had voted against von der Leyen in her validation vote in the European Parliament for a second term as president of the European Commission.
Von der Leyen said: “First of all, I want to clarify that I lined up Italy in the European Council at the end of June by refraining from von der Leyen’s mandate, indicating that everyone takes into consideration the indication that emerged from the ballot boxes. On Thursday, however, I lined up my party, within a parliamentary vote, on the political program of the next Commission. It is a fundamental distinction. After that, anything I do generates endless controversy, and so obviously yes, I expected it. Then you have to know how to read the controversy in its seriousness.”
What Is Meloni’s Stance on EU Cooperation?
Moreover, she said things that they agreed with, especially on immigration, which Meloni acknowledged but this was insufficient. “She also said things that both in method and substance did not make it possible for Fratelli d’Italia to vote,” Meloni told Corriere della Serra. “We have collaborated so far and will continue to do so in the future,” Meloni said.
The Italian prime minister refrained when EU leaders nominated von der Leyen as the latest Commission president at the end of June. It increased doubts about whether von der Leyen could gain a majority in the vote in the European Parliament. Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) is currently the fourth-biggest political strength in the EU legislature.
Von der Leyen got backing from her European People’s Party, the Socialist S&D, the liberal Renew and the Greens. Brothers of Italy declared it voted against von der Leyen because of the Greens’ support.
