Deputy Premier and Interior
Minister Matteo Salvini has said that next year's European
elections will usher in huge changes in the political situation
within the European Union.
"The next European elections will start epochal changes for
the future of Europe," Salvini, the leader of the rightwing
League party, said in an interview with TASS ahead of his
participation in the assembly of Russia's industrial
confederation on Wednesday.
"Our opponents says a catastrophe is coming, but this only
regards their personal interests.
"The peoples of Europe will have an unprecedented opportunity
to create a new Union of sovereign territories based on
democratic principles".
Salvini said the League-5-Star Movement government was not
going to be pushed around, amid criticism from the European
Commission of its plan to allow Italy's budget deficit to rise
to 2.4% of GDP next year.
"I am increasingly convinced that the financial lobbies in
Brussels cannot accept our presence in the government," he said.
"This reaction does not surprise me.
"They have manipulated puppets for years, but now they are
forced to deal with two political movements that they cannot
blackmail because they don't own anything to anyone, but defend
the interests of their people".
He also repeated his criticism of Western sanctions on
Russia.
"Maintaining good relations with Russia is a natural
component of the national interest for us," he said.
"Unfortunately, the deterioration in diplomatic relations
between the USA, some European countries, and Russia is a
complicated problem for Italy, which depends on its membership
of certain international structures like the European Union and
NATO.
"We will work to overcome every disagreement but it will take
time.
"The sanctions on Russia are absurd and we will try to
convince our partners".
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