In recent months the contacts between Giorgia Meloni (photo) and Mario Draghi have been several and repeated, almost always direct and without any intermediation. But it is likely that not even the prime minister expected such a decisive acceleration from the former president of the ECB. Who, after having spoken first to the European Ministers of the Economy and then to the representatives of the parliamentary groups in Strasbourg, yesterday spoke at the “High-level Conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights” organized by the Belgian EU Presidency in La Hulpe, near Brussels. And he has definitely changed pace compared to the two previous appointments, effectively designing his project for Europe. Of course, formally Draghi only chose to anticipate some of the conclusions of the report on competitiveness that Ursula von der Leyen entrusted to him and which will be officially presented in June. But he did it in such a peremptory manner that his intention to place himself at the center of the field and say “I’m here” is evident. Yes, because it is no mystery that for months Draghi has been one of the most popular names for the position of future president of the EU Commission (or, should the first objective fail, of the EU Council). A complicated game, where the balance between states is intertwined with the interests of the main parties of what now seems an inevitable re-edition of the “Ursula majority” (regardless of what von der Leyen’s fate will be).
The Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, a major sponsor of the former ECB, risks being downsized by the European elections, while the German Olaf Scholz could even exit the vote with a government crisis at the door, if the SPD really finishes third, lapped by the CDU /CSU and overtaken by the ultra-right of Afd. Not a detail, because the European liturgy provides formal passages that are also substance. Starting from the fact that the candidate for president of the Commission must first be indicated by the EU Council and only then voted on by the European Parliament. And it is clear that the state of health with which Europe’s heaviest leaders will present themselves after the vote on 8 and 9 June can have a significant impact on a candidacy that still remains external to the parties. An element that can indeed be an advantage, but which can also prove fatal.
For all these reasons Meloni continues to move with caution, also aware that – with von der Leyen losing ground – one of the other possible candidates in the field is that of Antonio Tajani (photo) in the Ppe quota.
Even yesterday, during some meetings at Palazzo Chigi, the prime minister reiterated that to make a decision you need to “wait for the vote and have the geography of the new EU Parliament in front of you”. Because, there are still too many variables. Including the fast-moving international scenario in both the Middle East and Ukraine. Of course, you agreed with your interlocutors, today Draghi took “a step forward” towards his candidacy as president of the Commission. And Meloni has had a rather secular approach on this point for weeks. She is aware that an umbrella like Draghi’s would allow her to get to the end of the legislature even if the international scenario were to become further complicated, but she also knows that Italy would lose the right to have a commissioner (who should be from Fdi) and that a that point would be the former ECB and no longer Palazzo Chigi the main Italian reference point in the EU). But there is no doubt, explains the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, that «Draghi has the qualifications to aspire to every role».
The doubt that bounces around the rooms of Palazzo Chigi is that the former ECB came out too soon. The EU Parliament is unlikely to vote for the new president before September (unless it is to confirm the outgoing von der Leyen) and in five months it is easy to get burned. They are different situations, of course, but some evoke the race for the Quirinale in 2022.
On that occasion, one of Draghi’s mistakes was certainly that of having “left” too early.
Tags: Telephone contacts Meloni Draghi prudence prime minister risk Collebis
