[ad_1]
Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, who is preparing to become Italy’s next prime minister, has vowed to put the country’s interests first as he tackles soaring energy costs.
Ms Meloni made the pledge in her first public event since her Italian fraternal party won the most votes in the country’s national elections, in Milan, sponsored by the influential Coldiretti farm lobby in Italy. Addressing farmers and producers at the Agricultural Expo.
After the Sept. 25 vote, she held a week-long closed-door meeting with allies and the outgoing government that would make Italy the first far-right-led government since World War II.
Her appearance comes as Germany this week announced it would spend up to 200 billion euros (£175 billion) to help consumers and businesses cope with soaring energy prices due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while refusing to support a European gas price cap as Italy and Other countries are seeking.
Ms Meloni said if her government took similar action, it should not be seen as some sort of populist, nationalist response, but as a “clear” strategy “to defend the national interest for a common solution”.
“Italy must regain its stance and find common solutions starting with defending its national interests,” Ms Meloni told farmers in Milan.
“This will change in the coming months. It doesn’t mean being negative about others, but being positive about yourself, starting with defending the national interest because everyone else is doing it.”
Her speech came as Italian energy giant ENI reported that Gazprom said it could not confirm any gas supplies passing through Austria on Saturday.
Since the start of the Ukrainian war in February, Russia has cut gas supplies to Europe for heating, power generation and operating plants.
European leaders have accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of using “energy blackmail” to divide their strong support for Ukraine.
Ms Meloni has strongly reiterated her support for Ukraine in the war, vowing to protect Italian industry and agriculture from rising energy prices partly caused by the conflict, as well as from the coronavirus pandemic and record heatwave. The summer destroyed billions of crops.
Her party, which has its roots in the neo-fascist movement, is expected to join Matteo Salvini’s right-wing coalition and former prime minister Silvio’s center-right Extreme Italia to become Berlusconi’s largest party in a center-right coalition government.
Ms Meloni, who will become the first woman to serve as Italy’s prime minister, told farmers a key priority was protecting the “Made in Italy” agricultural brand and its supply chain to reduce reliance on imports.
Before arriving at the Cordireti Forum, Ms Meloni visited Mr Berlusconi at his Arcore estate outside Milan for their first post-election meeting.
A joint statement from the two parties said the meeting was held “in an atmosphere of high cooperation and unity of intent,” especially in the face of high energy prices.
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia coordinator Antonio Tajani also took aim at Germany’s decision and its impact on other EU countries, telling the Coldiretti forum: “If you want to be a European locomotive, you can’t just think about yourself. Damage others” .
Mr Salvini, speaking at the Coldiretti Forum on Friday, slammed Germany’s energy plans for not cooperating with other EU countries.
Italy has spent about 60 billion euros since last year to ease the pain of rising energy prices for households and industry.
But Cordiretti said the way to aid farmers has been tax credits, not electricity bills, which have risen 500 percent since last year, and fertilizer costs that have risen 170 percent.
The government of outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi has refused to borrow more money for a deeper aid package, citing Italy’s high debt levels.
Instead, Italy has asked Europe to set a price cap on Russian gas, but has so far failed to convince the rest of the EU to agree.
[ad_2]
Source link
