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.
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