MILAN — «I think it is a particular pre-election moment for the League…», says the vice president of the Chamber Giorgio Mulè (Forza Italia). In short, the Matteo Salvini which tickles the pro-Putin electorate a bit, it does so with a single purpose: to reposition the party in a European key, recovering some anti-system votes like in the old days, so to speak.
What did you think when you read Salvini’s statement?
«Well, I would like to point out that the League itself deemed it appropriate to specify the meaning of those words to avoid misunderstandings».
How was the Russian vote for you?
«I give a clear and sunny opinion: if the DC made posters in the post-war period with the words “in the secret of the cabin God sees you but Stalin doesn’t”, in Russia the “God sees you and Putin too” was staged. Whoever went to the polling station had a gun pointed at his head, almost in the true sense of the word. It was more Russian roulette than a vote. They were not elections but a simulation, an exercise that was neither free nor regular.”
Now the cases of Salvini’s ambiguity are increasingly numerous, see also the statements on Nalvalny: the question is, “Is Salvini there or is he doing it?”. Do you consider it compatible with your role as deputy prime minister?
«The League is compatible to the extent that it supports the political direction of the government in foreign policy, through the vote in Parliament. And there they never failed, their behavior was impeccable, unlike other opposition forces disunited in foreign policy. Then there are Salvini’s statements, of course, but everyone looks inside his home and reliability cannot be measured by his statements.”
Do you think that the leader of the League says certain things for electoral reasons or are there other interests at stake?
«He’s never nice either polite to speak in other people’s houses, but there is a particular electoral moment for the League in view of the elections, I therefore believe it is a repositioning for the European elections”.
Is there more freedom of speech in Putin’s Russia or in Salvini’s League?
«Incomparable, within the League I don’t see Navalny cases, or with that outcome…».
Next Saturday in Rome there is another gathering of Identity and Democracy, the European right-wing grouping and the League within which there is no lack of declared pro-Putini sympathies. Does it embarrass you?
«It’s a meeting of the League, yet another with groups like Afd. We have said clearly, and without any possibility of reviewing the judgment, that Forza Italia is incompatible with the AfD as well as with other extremist groups. Where they are there we cannot be there. And realpolitik will not be able to have the upper hand: it is a question of political hygiene even before real politics.”
What could be a possible tipping point for the end of the war in Ukraine?
«I think it is banal in its clarity: Russia must be the first country to lay down its arms and ask for negotiations to begin. This step must be done by them, because they are occupiers, who can only respond with resistance. The basis of the negotiation starts from the cessation of hostilities. The argument that “they are too strong, we must give up” cannot be valid.”
But are there any turning points on the horizon?
«I fear the vote in Russia will strengthen Putin, after 25 years of leadership he still has a strong consensus and his chest will swell further. Nor does Macron’s behavior help, his declarations on sending NATO soldiers is the worst thing that could have been done, Europe thus appears divided.”
The last thing: but what effect does the thought of Trump returning to the White House have on you?
«Should he return, he will still be a democratically elected president, the values that unite us with the USA will not be questioned. Then Trump accustomed us to photonic announcements and dystonic landings.”
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– 2024-04-10 01:47:15
