Europe construction site. Meloni takes time on alliances. Tajani warns Salvini: “No extremists”

Giorgia Meloni takes time. “There are no negotiations in progress”, she replies to those who ask her about the alliances in Brussels and Salvini’s appeals. The Europe construction site is open, but the passage that will lead to the June 2024 elections is a narrow and delicate one. This was evident a few days ago at the European Council, when the premier was faced with the sovereign contradictions regarding migrants. “Certainly there is a growing awareness that the unnatural agreement between the People’s Party and the Socialists is no longer adequate for the challenges Europe is facing“, adds the Prime Minister – interviewed by Corriere della Sera. He also defends the choices of Poland and Hungary on migrants, a matter of “national interest”, he explains. For weeks Meloni – who is president of the European conservatives – has been working more or less clearly on rapprochement with the European Populars, which is essential for counting on the next balances from which the new European Commission will emerge. Meanwhile, he wants to wait for the Spanish elections, in the awareness that the trend is in favor of the centre-right, as indicated by the elections in Sweden, Finland and also in Greece. “It’s a stimulating phase, the Conservatives and Italy can play a central role”.

It may also be for this reason that the ally Matteo Salvini has tried to play in advance, to press her, asking for a written pact from the center-right parties in view of next year’s European campaign. No encore for the Ursula majority, no agreement with the liberals at Macron, the meaning of the Northern League leader’s proposal. that he tries to get out of isolation. Although, to tell the truth, the sortie did not have great success. From Fratelli d’Italia no one speaks, while Forza Italia has returned every proposal to the sender. The problem, said Antonio Tajani bluntly, are the League’s traveling companions in Brussels, the Identity and Democracy group, which includes, among others, the Germans (extremists) of the AfD and the French Marine Le Pen , whom Salvini was to meet today in Rome. The summit was postponed and replaced by a videoconference, “in light of the serious situation in France”, Lega sources said.

Who knows if Tajani’s words played a role, who unlike the premier went straight to the point. “It is impossible for us to make any agreement with the AfD and with Mrs Le Pen’s party. When I was elected President of the European Parliament, I personally created an agreement between Conservatives, Populars and Liberals. That is the agreement, in my opinion, on which to bet”, said the foreign minister and FI coordinator without mincing words this morning. A clear closure to Salvini’s idea and a timing that doesn’t seem exactly random. But on the other hand, the one with the liberals is a perspective that allows Tajani to continue to cultivate the ambition that leads to the leadership of the European Commission. And many believe this is the real goal of the minister, a path that could be facilitated by Meloni herself: an Italian in the presidency, even more so if it were the ally, would be no small success for the government. Tajani also added that “the League is a very different thing. No problem, on the contrary, we will be happy to have the League part of a majority”. But the stakes are clear: no extremists.