Mario Draghi to the EU Commission? “There are chances,” he assures Matteo Renzisenator and leader of Italia Viva and former Prime Minister.
The Democratic Party accuses you of treason in Basilicata. No second thoughts about supporting Bardi?
«The Democratic Party did everything on its own: it vetoed us to chase the Five Star Movement. Brilliant. The mathematics is clear: if the Democratic Party had allied itself with Italia Viva and Pittella it would have won. He chose the grillini and lost. The Lucanian Democratic Party and Roberto Speranza should examine their consciences. Or directly a politics course.”
Will the broad camp of the centrists with the center-right be repeated elsewhere?
«We are together in Genoa and Palermo, we are divided elsewhere. On Municipalities and Regions we choose people. At the European Championships we instead choose the United States of Europe. Which unfortunately have little to do with this right and this left.”
Are you running for the European elections?
«We will decide this week. If I run, I’ll go to Europe. If I have to stay in Italy I won’t apply. When I see certain presumed leaders running for office saying: even if you elect me I won’t go to Strasbourg I feel bitter. This way of doing things makes fun of voters, it’s not serious.”
The minimum target on June 9th?
«The objective is to get one more European parliamentarian than Salvini. He is a sovereignist, I believe in globalization. He says less Europe, I say that without Europe we are finished. I can’t wait to go around the companies of the North-East and tell them why Europe is better for them, not Padania.”
Aren’t you afraid that the arguments in recent months with Calenda have disaffected centrist voters?
«Calenda did everything by himself: he insulted everyone by breaking up with Letta, then with Bonino, then with me. But at least there is clarity today. Anyone who wants to vote for us votes for a symbol where the United States of Europe is written. Anyone who wants to vote for him votes for a symbol where Calenda is written. We offer a political project, not a surname.”
Three points at the top of your program?
«Healthcare. The ESM with 37 billion euros must be taken immediately. Salaries. People don’t make it to the end of the month because the cost of living increases but wages are stagnant. Reforms. Stop the right of veto because Orban cannot decide our future. And a commission elected directly by the citizens.”
You were a staunch supporter of von der Leyen. Why do you want to move on now?
«Because I saw it in action. He failed on the green deal by making European companies pay too high a cost in the name of ideology. It is not credible on geopolitics, we are absent from all the tables. And his presidency was insignificant on institutional reform.”
Macron has contacted European leaders, including Meloni, about Draghi’s possible candidacy for the presidency of the EU Commission. Are there concrete chances?
“In my opinion, yes. But a lot depends on how many Renew Europe parliamentarians will launch this proposal. We are here. The more strength we have, the more credible Draghi’s candidacy will be.”
How do you expect to be able to sign the Draghi operation this time too?
«Last time I didn’t sign anything: I just sent Conte home because I knew it was right. And because I imagined how it would end. This time we’ll see. It’s a difficult challenge but those are the games that are nice to play.”
Let’s go back to Italy. What does the Bari case say about the health of the centre-left?
«I don’t know about the center-left. However, it tells us a lot about Michele Emiliano: a man who wanted to merge the Democratic Party and the Grillini in a populist program. Emiliano is the denial of politics as I conceive it. I hope he goes home soon but Conte proves himself once again to be a weather vane: he could have distrusted him and he won’t do it.”
As a former secretary, do you see Elly Schlein’s leadership in the Democratic Party at risk?
«I don’t see leadership at all. We didn’t see it coming. Let’s hope it improves after the Europeans.”
What do you think of the waltz on the secretary’s name in the symbol?
«He wanted to demonstrate his strength, he showed his weakness. I’m sorry for her.”
Did you regret having given the green light to the PD-Five Star pact that summer five years ago?
«Are you kidding? Having avoided Salvini’s all in is a medal. Not only would we never have had Draghi at Palazzo Chigi. But above all we would have had Salvini as prime minister to manage Covid and war and a sovereignist President of the Republic.”
Justice, will you vote for the separation of careers?
“Yes. If they ever propose it. Because these people talk about everything but do nothing. And in the meantime, on justice, Nordio comes to the courtroom to report on the story of torture at the juvenile prison in Milan. Or send Delmastro, but if necessary remind him not to be accompanied by armed deputies.”
Today, April 25, do you still see the specter of fascism haunting Italy as Scurati says?
«No way. Today is Liberation Day, hurray. Anti-fascism is a constitutive value of the Republic. But please: there are pages on Scurati and not even a line for the PNRR decree which gives a salary to Brunetta, hiring to Lollobrigida, 65 million to Albania for the migrant centres. And everyone was quiet. Long live anti-fascism, we said it. Now can we kindly go back to dealing with the economic situation of the country?”.
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