Rome – The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, officially runs to be the next Italian prime minister (Presidente del Consiglio). Yesterday, late in the evening, he accepted the investiture offered by Silvio Berlusconi, leader of Forza Italia, and announced on Twitter his willingness “to serve Italy”, after the coming elections of next Sunday, if, after the vote (next Sunday), the Italian president of the Republic Sergio Mattarella appoints him to form the next government.
Ringrazio Il Presidente Berlusconi per il suo atto di stima nei miei confronti.Ho dato a lui,stasera,la mia disponibilità a servire l’Italia.Ora ogni ulteriore decisione spetta ai nostri concittadini ed al Presidente della Repubblica
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) March 1, 2018
Like his predecessor Martin Schulz, Tajani wish to leave the highest seat of the European Parliament to lead the government of his country, but with more possibilities to succeed. The center-right coalition is the nearest to conquer a majority in the next Parliament. And despite the investiture made by Berlusconi Tajani’s candidature is in opposition to the personal candidacies by the two allies, Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni, no absolute refusal on Tajani’s name has been expressed. The leader of Lega stressed that “Tajani is not Juncker”, while giving to the President of the European Commission the label of “Europe we don’t like”. Ms. Meloni, leader of Fratelli d’Italia, assured her support to Tajani if Forza Italia results being the first party of the coalition.