Ruling Italian parties all voted for Metsola's re-election

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 16 - The parties of Italy's ruling coalition were united on Tuesday in voting for European Parliament President Roberta Metsola being re-elected.
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's Forza Italia (FI) party belongs to Metsola's European People's Party (EPP) while the majority of the ECR MEPs also voted for the Maltese politician, including those from Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, sources said.
    Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini's League did likewise even though the Patriots for Europe group it belongs to is in the opposition at the EU level, according to the sources.
    The ruling alliance is not set to be so united when it comes to the vote on whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen should get a second term.
    While FI is sure to back von der Leyen, an EPP figure, Salvini has said the League will not support her, complaining of allegedly damage done by the outgoing commission.
    It is uncertain what Meloni's FdI will do.
    The premier was furious that the ECR group she chairs was left out of the negotiations for the EU top jobs.
    But there is speculation Meloni may get her MEPs to vote for von der Leyen and give 'external' support to the new EU executive if she gets policy concessions and Italy is given a Commissioner with an influential position.
    As for the Italian opposition, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) was also expected to back Metsola.
    The Green MEPs had freedom to vote as they please but party sources said most are thought to have voted in favour.
    The MEPs for the Left, which the 5-Star Movement (M5S) belongs to, were told to vote for Irene Montero. (ANSA).