Raffaele Fitto new European commissioner: the reactions, from Meloni to the M5s

The centre-right is satisfied, starting with the prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The center-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 which prefers not to go too far and shows a very critical M5S oriented towards the no in the Brussels chamber “due to the meager 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 its new EU commission in Strasbourg, released a post on social networks with photographs of all the members of the team, subjected to examination by the European Parliament. “Together we will be one team, working to achieve a common goal: making Europe stronger”, the words of von der Leyen. Who has decided to appoint for his second mandate “six executive vice presidents: four women, two men”, including Fitto. “An important recognition that confirms the rediscovered central role of our nation within the EU. Italy is finally once again a protagonist in Europe – comments Giorgia Meloni on social media – Good luck Raffaele, we are sure that you will carry out your role very well in the interests of Europe and Italy”.

There is satisfaction among the majority, from the Forza Italia senator Licia Ronzulli to the group leader of the Brothers of Italy in the Chamber of Deputies, Thomas Fotiby the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigidato the other ministers Ursus e Pichetto. “It is excellent news that confirms the credibility and important role that Italy plays and will continue to play in Europe! A success for the government. Congratulations Raffaele!”, he writes on Antonio TajaniForeign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Good job to Fitto also from Matteo Salvini: “We are certain that he will be able to advance Italy’s interests with common sense and concreteness”, comments the other deputy 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 the centrality of Italy in Europe”.

In the center-left, the M5S is very critical. The topic will be at the center of a meeting of five-star MEPs after Fitto’s hearing in the relevant commissions. At the moment no is the most accepted choice. A reflection opens in the Democratic Party. “A conservative Commission is born, mirroring the European governments of the moment. A step back. We will work in Parliament to ensure a stronger and more humane Europe. Commissioner Fitto must free himself from the anti-European rhetoric of the government that indicated him”, comments NIcola Zingarettihead of delegation of Pd MEPs. A step back, “conservative and dependent on government consensus. A break from the past”, for the Dem deputy Enzo Amendola who wishes Fitto to “get rid of the sovereignist narrative of his government”. The compliments came from another Pd MEP, Antonio Decaro: “I believe that Italy is represented by a qualified government representative capable of speaking without ideological forcing. I have known Raffaele Fitto for more than twenty years – he adds – in addition to being Italian we are also both from Puglia, we have always worked on opposing political fronts and alignments but when it came to collaborating for the good of the country and the Italian municipalities, 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 which Fitto also knows very well”. For the MEP Alessandra Morettideputy head of delegation of the Democratic Party, “the first major obstacle for Fitto will be in the Meloni household given that 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 within Ecr and FdI will soon explode”.

“I believe that he is not the right person to carry out this function. We are not against Italy if we say that we disagree with Fitto’s proposal, the one who has spent less than 30% of the PNRR funds for our country and is now preparing to to manage an extremely large portfolio. And then I would like to remind you that the Italian right and the sovereignists in Europe are those who are undermining the autonomy of information and the judiciary”. This was stated by the spokesperson for Green Europe and deputy of the Greens and Left Alliance, Angelo Bonelli.

Also the judgment of Nicola Fratoianni is clear: “Our group in the European Parliament The Left in Stasburg voted against Von der Leyen and our opinion can only be negative on the Commission too, which is not a surprise for us”.