Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that people misinterpreted her FT interview. In the interview with the Financial Times, she called it “childish” to suggest Italy must choose between supporting the European Union or former US President Donald Trump.
When it comes to drama and theatrics, the political world never disappoints. Italy is no exception. The main protagonist in this particular scene is PM Giorgia Meloni. Also leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, she has urged for calm as the EU plans its response to US tariffs, as well as saying it would be “childish” to suggest Italy has to make a choice. If it weren’t for the fact it’s only just turned spring, I’d be convinced we’re in the second act of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Opposition politicians claim the interview shows Meloni supports Trump. Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein accused her of being a Trojan horse for the US administration in Europe.
“I am astonished by the interpretation of my interview with the FT: it is scandalous,” Meloni said at the congress of the centrist opposition party Azione.
“[They say] Meloni declares that she is with Trump and against Europe. But that is not what I said. I said that I am always on Italy’s side, that Italy is in Europe, and its role must also be to defend the unity of the West.”
She thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for reaffirming this position in a recent interview. “I think it is my responsibility to do what I can to defend this unity or rebuild it if necessary. Of course, there are issues where we are divided, starting with the tariffs. But precisely for this reason, I think that we cannot act on impulse but with balance.”
Meloni criticises opposition calling for a break with the US
Meloni criticised some Italian party leaders for calling for a break with the US. “Schlein says they cannot be our allies. At the same time, other leaders argue that Europe should not spend money on its own security. I don’t understand. Is the proposal to break all forms of alliance with the US but still ask them to handle our security? Or should Europe become a big, demilitarised hippie community that relies on the good faith of foreign powers?”
She also admitted that “not everything is going well” for the Italian economy. “I am well aware that the situation in which we are moving makes the veins in our wrists shake,” she said. “Everything is too complex and unpredictable, and we must be prepared for many different scenarios.
“I believe that the priorities we have identified are the right ones. We were right when we said that Italy needs a government with a medium to long-term strategy.”
