The European Union, initially very circumspect about the rise to power of the extreme right in Italy, said it was ready to “cooperatewith the eurosceptic government of Giorgia Meloni, who was sworn in on Saturday and is due to take office on Sunday.
“Congratulations to Giorgia Meloni on her appointment as Prime Minister, the first woman to hold this posttweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “I count on constructive cooperation with the new government, in the face of the challenges that we must face together“.
“Let’s work together for the good of Italy and the EU“, for his part wrote the President of the European Council Charles Michel. “Europe needs Italy. Together we will overcome all difficultiesadded the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in a tweet written in Italian. These reactions in chorus of the three main European institutions contrasted with the silence of the major capitals Berlin, Paris and Madrid.
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The very conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a pet peeve of Brussels, was one of the only European leaders to congratulate Ms Meloni, hailing “a great day for the european right“. The European far right was also at the party: “Throughout Europe, patriots are coming to power and with them, this Europe of nations that we are calling for“, rejoiced in France Marine Le Pen.
US President Joe Biden for his part congratulated Giorgia Meloni, saying that he had “hurryto continue their work on behalf of Ukraine, in a statement from the White House. “As G7 leaders, I look forward to continuing our support for Ukraine, holding Russia to account for its aggression, upholding human rights and democratic values, and building sustainable economic growth.“said Joe Biden. “Italy is a vital NATO ally“, he recalled.