Do you know how many Italian leaders have been Presidents of their respective European political family? Until two days ago, nobody. But now Giorgia Meloni has been elected to lead the European Conservative and Reformist Party (Ecr): so that, a little between the serious and the facetious, we could call her the lioness of Europe, being the lion symbol of the group.
This is excellent news for Italy, which in this way sees a role recognized, through trust in the leader of its third party. Let me be clear, the Conservatives believe in the Europe of the homelands and therefore the respective nation stands out, but there is no doubt that, with the pandemic and with the Recovery Fund, Italian opposition parties are now required to govern, a revision of the old positions.
The slogans on stepmother Europe no longer work, but at the same time little or nothing goes into the EU and much must be done to recover the sovereignty of individual states: Meloni at the helm of an important group will certainly provide a push in this direction. But then the conservatives play a very decisive role even beyond the EU: the largest party, after the exit of the English Tories, is the Polish Pis, very popular in Washington, while the American Republicans and the Likud are affiliated to the ECR. . Between Washington and Moscow, the Conservatives have no doubts who to side with, and Meloni’s election is a sign, not only of his party’s Western roots, but also of the Brothers of Italy’s ability to strengthen this once geopolitical axis. which will go to the government. The assignment should not be read, as some malicious press will do, like a slap in the face of Salvini. The Lega joins another group in Brussels, as does Forza Italia, but this variety of positions, more than a sign of weakness of the center-right, is of strength. And Meloni’s office is a gesture of confidence on the part of the United States, of great significance especially if Trump is re-elected, so the League will not mind knowing that its ally is welcome in Washington. Meloni president of the Conservatories brings with him two other important elements.
At the head of a group created by the Tories, where the Poles are the first party, can anyone still seriously think of using the stale argument of fascism against the leader of the Brothers of Italy? We hope not, but given the level of public debate, we are very pessimistic. It will only mean that the papier-mâché anti-fascists will be even more ridiculous. The other element concerns the word “conservative”. Which in Italy has always been unlucky, and equivocal, as if everyone adhered to the famous formula of Leo Longanesi “I am a conservative in a country where there is nothing to preserve”. But today we see the Italian third party proudly defining itself as conservative, and this will be important to give enamel, but above all substance, to this term. Because the scenario, Italian and world-wide, in the coming years will be increasingly oriented towards the opposition between progressives and conservatives. And having Meloni as leader of the European ones already means starting with several points of advantage.
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