On Friday, Fratelli D’Italia (FdI) leader and likely future Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni demanded the French government distance itself from comments made by its European Affairs Minister Laurence Boone, after she was quoted as saying Paris would monitor respect for the rule of law under the new government in Rome.
This prompted President Sergio Mattarella to say Italy could look after itself, and French President Emmanuel Macron to say Paris would work with the new premier “with good will”.
“I read in (daily newspaper) ‘La Repubblica’ that French Minister Laurence Boone reportedly said ‘we want to work with Rome but we will watch over the respect of rights and freedom’ and ‘we will be very attentive to the respect of the values and regulations of the rule of law’,” Meloni said via Facebook.
“I’m hoping that the left-wing press has misinterpreted the statements made by members of a foreign government, and I trust that the French government will deny these words, which seem too much like an unacceptable threat of interference against a sovereign State and EU member.
“The age of governments led by the (centre-left Democratic Party) PD asking for protection from abroad is over”.
Sources at Boone’s office said the minister’s thoughts had been “excessively simplified”, and that France obviously respects the democratic choice of the Italians.
“The minister, who is close to Italy, wants to carry on the work of cooperation and wishes to dialogue with the future executive as soon as possible.
“The minister does not mean to lecture anyone”.
Mattarella, for his part, said “Italy can look after itself while respecting the (Italian) Constitution and the values of the European Union.”
Macron also said France will work with the next Italian premier “with good will.”
Macron added:
“I want to express all my friendship and my full confidence in President (Sergio) Mattarella and in the conclusions he will draw from the assessment of the elections in Italy”, which is expected to give Meloni a government-formation mandate.
FdI bigwig Ignazio La Russia, for his part, said that Meloni and Mattarella were “in tune” with outgoing Premier Mario Draghi, the latter of whom said the EU was curious but not concerned about the next Italian government.
La Russa said:
“Enough interference, the time that other countries slapped Italy in the face without the left reacting is over.”
