Benedetto Della Vedova, the secretary of the +Europa party, said on Monday that an eventual centre-right government would have an antagonistic relationship with the European Union.
Della Vedova, whose party is a part of the centre-left coalition led by the Democratic Party (PD), cited the fact that the MEPs of Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Fratelli D’Italia (FdI) and Matteo Salvini's Lega party voted against last week's European Parliament motion declaring that Hungary can no longer be entirely considered a democracy.
“If you see (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orban as a model, you have the idea that winner takes all,” Della Vedova told an ANSA Forum.
“Once upon a time Salvini would go to Moscow and say that it was better there than in Paris or Brussels. We propose an idea of Italy that is a lead player in Europe, like it was with (outgoing Premier Mario) Draghi, one which gets to decide on equal terms with the big countries, France and Germany.
"They want Europe as an opponent.
"In Milan, Meloni said that when she comes to power, the gravy train is over (for the EU).
“The language used is a precise message too,” Vedova concluded.
On Monday, Meloni accused the outgoing government of letting officials target the right-wing group, being the only major party not to support Premier Mario Draghi's executive.
Meloni is tipped to become Italy's first woman premier after the September 25 general election, with FdI the top party in the polls and surveys released before a pre-vote blackout suggesting the centre-right coalition it is part of will win by landslide.
“In no advanced democracy is the only opposition to the government subject to systematic attacks by ministers, people in institutional roles and major media outlets,” Meloni said via Facebook.
“And, above all, in no western democracy does the government scientifically allow provocations that could easily lead to disorder during the election campaign and at opposition political rallies.
“These people talk about Europe but their model is the Ceausescu regime.
“We won't allow ourselves to be intimidated by those who hate freedom and the sovereignty of the people.”
