Goodbye Rome, Giancarlo Giorgetti sings in his heart. The Minister of Economy is confident of winning the festival for the nomination as European Commissioner and thus moving to Brussels, where he believes the climate is “better”. But it is not the meteorological aspect that he is referring to.
Giorgetti is tired of punching the League, whose line he doesn’t share (that’s a euphemism). He also told the secretary, as he later confided to a Northern League leader: «My economic policy approach is different. I explained to him that I am ready to step aside.” It is true that the shady owner of the Economy cyclically threatens to pass the buck. One of the last times he explained that he was “disinterested” in the role he holds: “I feel the duty to tell the truth even at the cost of losing my position.” This time it might not be like the other times.
Also because – in addition to the disagreements within the party – there are also ideas that are not entirely consistent within the government regarding the growth model, the privatization system, and the fund management mechanisms. Furthermore, there is the wound of the ESM, which has caused him credibility problems in the European club of economic ministers. And Matteo Salvini’s intransigence forced him to pay a costly personal toll. Politically then, he is distant from the line drawn in Europe by the secretary, because “if Meloni veers towards the center it does not necessarily mean that it is useful for us to occupy the space left free on the right”.
In short, there are various reasons that lead Giorgetti to prefer the climate of Brussels. And the astral conjunction would seem to facilitate his intentions. This is what one of the majority leaders claims, after speaking with the prime minister: «Meanwhile, Giancarlo’s appointment as commissioner would be a guarantee for the government in Europe. And then it would allow Giorgia Meloni to install Maurizio Leo in the Economy office. How could Salvini oppose this scheme?”. A scheme which on the one hand would offer the Prime Minister the possibility of directly controlling the via XX Settembre department. And on the other hand it would frame the “Captain”: how could the Northern League group in Strasbourg vote against the new commission if one of its leading men was part of it?
While waiting to pack his bags, Giorgetti should just sharpen his English. That’s not to say he isn’t already doing it, given that Meloni asked all the ministers having difficulty with the language of take lessons. For the rest, the European mission is unfolding. In Brussels he has the current President of the Commission as his point of reference. Yesterday Antonio Tajani announced that at the next EPP congress, «of which Forza Italia is an integral part», «our Spitzenkandidat» will be elected: Ursula von der Leyen should be the candidate, «and since we will win, we would vote for her» for a second mandate. Given the reports, Meloni would do it too.
On the other hand, the forecasts for the June polls assure the prime minister of a significant change in the balance of power in the centre-right. Especially if she were to run. By now her allies have understood that this will be the case and are constantly teasing her, telling her that “the stability of the government comes from your success at the European elections”. «I’ll think about it…», she holds back. In this context, “our coalition – according to Giovanni Donzelli of FdI – would need a solid center force”. «It is in everyone’s interest that this happens», comments Maurizio Lupi: «Therefore I propose a single list of parties that refer to the EPP».
There will be time to find an agreement, just as it will be a long time before we see Giorgetti’s nomination as European Commissioner made official, “an expression – claims Forzista Giorgio Mulè – of that moderate centre-right which is credible in Italy and in Europe. He has already demonstrated it during Mario Draghi’s government.” A non-random quote, which evokes the relationship between the Minister of Economy and the former prime minister. When taking leave of Palazzo Chigi, Giorgetti said that «Supermario» will still have «a role in Europe and in Italy». He hasn’t changed his mind.
2024-02-03 06:22:05
#disagreements #ESM #Salvinis #diktats #Giorgetti #thinks #Europe
