Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader
Giorgia Meloni said Thursday that Italy will be a reliable
international partner if a right/centre-right coalition led by
her party wins the September 25 general election.
"We reiterate that we will guarantee, with no ambiguity, the
Italian position (on the international arena) and the absolute
support of the heroic battle of the Ukraine people (against the
Russian invasion)," Meloni told her party's national
directorate.
"We can say that an Italy led by Brothers of Italy and the
centre right will be an Italy that is reliable at the
international level".
Meloni looks set to become Italy's next premier if, as expected,
the right/centre-right coalition wins the general election after
the alliance agreed that the party that gets most votes should
pick the name to put to President Sergio Mattarella.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of right/centre-right
leaders on Wednesday after the issue of the future premier had
caused some turmoil within the alliance.
Meloni, whose right-wing party is currently top of the opinion
polls, laid down an ultimatum on Monday, saying there was no
point being in an alliance without an agreement on the premier
candidate.
Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI)
had proposed putting off the decision to a vote of centre-right
lawmakers after the election.
"Let's win first and then see who lifts the cup," FI
Coordinator Antonio Tajani had said.
But Meloni's stance prevailed at Wednesday's meeting after
League leader Matteo Salvini had also come out in favour of the
principle that the party that gets most votes should also get
the right to choose the premier nominee.
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