(see related)
The liberal Renew group on
Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction at the decision to nominate
Italian European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto executive vice
president for cohesion and reforms in President Ursula von der
Leyen's new European Commission.
Fitto is a leading member of Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing
Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, which voted against von der Leyen
getting a second term at the head of the EU executive.
"I deplore von der Leyen's political decision to give an
executive vice-presidency to Raffaele Fitto," said Renew
President Valérie Hayer.
"We will wait for the (presentation) hearings (in the European
Parliament).
"We will evaluate him on his skills, on his pro-European
commitments, on his independence and on his coherence with the
July guidelines - there will be maximum vigilance from us.
"Now is the time to act, we will be constructive but demanding.
"The pro-EU forces must unite: we must not leave room for
populists of the right and left.
"The implementation of the Green Deal will be a priority for
us".
The Greens also said they would "not give Fitto an easy time" in
the European Parliament.
"The fact that the candidate of a far-right government has been
nominated vice-president of the EU Commission remains a great
concern for the Green group." Greens Co-president Terry Reintke
said.
"It could create a dangerous shift towards the far right in the
Commission and jeopardize the pro-democratic majority".
However, Deputy Premier, Transport Minister and League leader
Matteo Salvini said he was "certain" that Fitto would "advance
Italy's interests with common sense and concreteness" in his new
role.
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