Premier Giorgia Meloni defended her
decision this week to order MEPs from her right-wing Brothers of
Italy (FdI) party to vote against a second-term for European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an interview
published in Saturday's Corriere della Sera.
"I behaved as a European leader should behave because I asked
myself whether it was the right trajectory," Meloni said.
"The citizens asked for a change of pace (in June's European
elections) and I did what I thought was right.
"If you decide to say yes only to do what others are doing, you
are not doing the job that a leader should do.
"There has often been a lack of politics, which is about vision
and decision, in Europe.
"The method chosen to decide the (EU) top jobs can compromise
both.
"By allying political forces that do not think the same way
about anything, the risk is that you don't have a clear vision".
Meloni said she does not fear Italy getting a secondary role in
the new EU executive after voting against von der Leyen.
"I speak to the Commission President all the time. We have
learned to respect each other," Meloni said.
"We have cooperated up to now and we'll continue to do so in the
future too.
"Everyone recognizes Italy's importance and its role and I'm
certain that this will be what is assessed when the posts are
decided".
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