“I expect very tough opposition. Weapons in Kiev? Hoax to say that we are depriving Italians of funds»- Corriere.it

«I hear that we don’t have the money for the Italians and instead we spend the money on weapons, this is also a hoax: we don’t spend money to buy weapons that we send to the Ukrainians, we already have weapons that we fortunately believe we shouldn’t use today. So there is nothing we are taking away from the Italians to stave off a war that could also affect the Italians». So the premier Giorgia Meloni to «Five minutes» of Bruno Vespaaired tonight.

«I understand all the citizens’ difficulties and doubts but I also believe that it should be clear that it is an illusion to think that if we do not support the Ukrainians we will have peace. We would not have peace but an invasion and that invasion would bring war closer to home, this is the scenario,” explains the prime minister.

«Many expected the usual praised scenario of a Italietta spaghetti and mandolin thatin the face of difficulties, always turns the other way. Instead, we have been something else, we are something else and this is not just a matter of pride but a matter of defense of the national interest. I am proud – Meloni underlined – also for what we have done for the Ukrainians, for the civilian population. There are children, families, ordinary people attacked with missiles who bomb strategic infrastructures to subdue the population, with the cold, the hunger, the dark”. “I’m proud and – concluded the Prime Minister – I believe that Italians should be too for what we are doing to defend these families and these children. It’s Italy. A proud Italy that doesn’t change its position from one day to the next».

Speaking of the shipwreck of migrants in Crotone, Meloni adds: «The only way to deal seriously with this matter with humanity is to stop the departures and on this we need aEurope that in addition to declaring its willingness to act quickly and this is the reason why today I sent a letter to the European Council and to the European Commission to ask that what we discussed at the last European Council be implemented immediately”.

“Schlein? I expect very tough opposition.”

The Prime Minister then spoke of the election of Elly Schlein as the new secretary of the Democratic Party: «I think it is a very interesting scenario. I called Elly Schlein to send my best wishes, even personally. Obviously, I expect tough opposition. I made a very tough opposition. The confrontation of ideas has never worried me, it has never scared me. I heard you say that the “Pd will be a problem for the Meloni government”… Look, democracy has never been a problem for us, if anything it was for the left. For us the comparison – if it is made on ideas – it is simply good news. I’m certainly ready for confrontation.”

Article being updated.