Raffaele Fitto new European Commissioner: reactions, from Meloni to M5s

The centre-right is satisfied, starting with the prime minister Georgia Meloni. The centre-left is skeptical. The nomination of Raffaele Fitto as executive vice president of the European Commission with responsibility for Cohesion and Reforms makes the majority rejoice, opens a reflection in the Democratic Party that prefers not to commit itself and shows a very critical M5S oriented towards a no in the chamber in Brussels “due to the poor results of the implementation of the PNRR” in Italy, as reported by some sources of the Movement.

Ursula von der Leyenon the day of the presentation of her new EU commission in Strasbourg, posted on social networks a photo of all the members of the team, submitted to the European Parliament for examination. “Together we will be a single team, working to achieve a common goal: to make Europe stronger,” said von der Leyen. She decided to nominate for her second term “six executive vice presidents: four women, two men,” including Fitto. “An important recognition that confirms the newfound central role of our nation in the EU. Italy is finally back as a protagonist in Europe,” commented Giorgia Meloni on social media. “Good luck Raffaele, we are sure that you will carry out your task very well in the interest of Europe and Italy.”

There is satisfaction in the majority, from the Forza Italia senator Licia Ronzulli to the group leader of Fratelli d’Italia in the Chamber of Deputies, Thomas Fotifrom the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigidato the other ministers Bear e Pichetto. “This is excellent news that confirms the credibility and the important role that Italy plays and will continue to play in Europe! A success for the government. Congratulations Raffaele!”, he writes on X Antonio TajaniForeign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Good luck to Fitto also from Matthew Salvini: “We are certain that he will be able to carry forward Italy’s interests with common sense and concreteness”, comments the other vice prime minister and minister of Infrastructure on X. For the president of Noi Moderati Maurizio Lupi Fitto’s appointment “is a great recognition that demonstrates Italy’s centrality in Europe”.

The M5S is very critical in the centre-left. The topic will be at the centre of a meeting of the MEPs of the Five Star Movement after Fitto’s hearing in the competent committees. At the moment, the no is the most accredited choice. A reflection is opening in the Democratic Party. “A conservative Commission is born, a mirror of the European governments of this moment. A step backwards. We will commit ourselves in Parliament to guarantee a stronger and more human Europe. Commissioner Fitto should free himself from the anti-European rhetoric of the government that appointed him”, comments Nicole Zingarettihead of the PD MEPs’ delegation. A step back, “conservative and dependent on the consensus of governments. A break from the past”, for the Democratic MP Enzo Amendola who wishes Fitto to “free himself from the sovereignist narrative of his government”. The compliments came from another PD MEP: “I believe that Italy is represented by a government representative who is qualified and capable of communicating without ideological forcing. I have known Raffaele Fitto for more than twenty years – he adds – in addition to being Italian, we are both from Puglia, we have always worked on opposing political fronts and sides but when it came to collaborating for the good of the country and the Italian municipalities, which I represented at the helm of the national association until last May, I found in him an attentive and available interlocutor. The delegation to Cohesion is strategic for Italy and for all the countries of southern Europe that Fitto also knows very well”. For the MEP Alexandra Morettideputy head of the PD delegation, “the first big obstacle for Fitto will be right in Meloni’s house since Orbán is a staunch supporter of the current voting method. The leader of FdI must get out of the ambiguity and Fitto will have to choose the path of Europe, these internal contradictions in Ecr and FdI will explode soon”.