Crossfire on Meloni. Italian MEPs in front of von der Leyen’s second term

From the correspondent in Strasbourg – The confirmation vote for Ursula von der Leyen for second term presidency of the European Commission staged today (July 18) in the European Parliament also has an impact on Italy, more specifically on the premier Giorgia Meloni and the 24 MEPs of Fratelli d’Italia. Although irrelevant to the outgoing president’s election to succeed herself, the declaration of a dissenting vote that came only after the result was announced by the number one in the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has put pressure on the ruling party’s European representatives and relegated the Italian prime minister to an even more difficult negotiating position in view of the distribution of assignments in the Board of Commissioners that will slowly begin to form starting tomorrow.

“The attempt to bring the Greens on board has further unbalanced von der Leyen‘s narrative, the very Greens who were the biggest losers in these elections,” commented the co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, Nicola Procaccini, attempting to explain the reasons for the Italian delegation’s “no” vote to the re-election of the outgoing Commission chair: “The fact that she put herself in the hands of the biggest losers of the Europeans tells that something didn’t work, that’s why we didn’t vote for it.” Words confirmed by FdI’s delegation head, Carlo Fidanza (“The search for a consensus on the left that went as far as the Greens made it impossible for us to support her”), who tries to pour oil on troubled waters for the possible loss of weight of the Italian government in the von der Leyen-bis Commission: “This does not affect the relationship of institutional collaboration, which can lead to the definition of an adequate role that Italy deserves for its weight, history, economic strength and cultural tradition.” But it is indisputable that the chaos that emerged on the eve of the vote, with the poker game then lost to the 53 Green members, led to Meloni’s defeat on the only field where she could have played her cards after having emarginated herself in the European Council with abstention on von der Leyen (and voting against Kaja Kallas and António Costa).

“Fratelli d’Italia, premier Meloni’s party, votes against von der Leyen and places herself on the margins of Europe,” writes on X Democratic Party MEP Alessandra Moretti: “A very bad impression for a founding country like Italy; they vote like Orban.” Even fellow party member Stefano Bonaccini speaks of “Meloni’s isolation in Europe” and recalls the words of von der Leyen in flooded Emilia-Romagna in May 2023: “Tin bota, as you told me when you arrived at the flood sites,” although now the former regional president calls for “building a more just, social and sustainable Europe.” And even from the rielected Vice President of the Parliament on Tuesday (July 16) in the PD quota, Pina Picierno, there is confirmation that “we voted wholeheartedly for her programmatic lines, which clearly define the challenges that the European Union will have to face in the next five years.”

Also endorsing von der Leyen’s second term were Forza Italia MEPs (members of von der Leyen’s European People’s Party). “The next five years will be decisive, and the choices we will make will be decisive for the future of the European Union,” commented on the result of the vote by Forza Italia MEP Salvatore De Meo, applauding the policy guidelines presented by von der Leyen in the morning. European members of the majority party in Italy avoid commenting on today’s choice of the main governing partner, with a reading of the vote at least quaint (aided by the secrecy of the ballot box) by Forza Italia’s head of delegation, Fulvio Martusciello: “The Greens did not vote von der Leyen, she started with 401 votes and 401 votes she got, the majority stood united and neutralized a few socialist turncoats with ECR’s help.” Picture belied not only by the explanation of vote of the entire Green/Ale group but also by the four Green Europe MEPs: “Today we voted to stop the non-dialogue and destructive alternative to von der Leyen,” make it clear Cristina Guarda, Benedetta Scuderi, Leoluca Orlando and Ignazio Marino, stressing that the re-elected president’s program “comes with a greener and fairer vision, with a more ambitious Green Deal that finally considers the time factor needed to address the climate crisis and social injustices, in sharp contrast to the demands of the Italian government.”

Opposed to von der Leyen’s re-election but also critical of the ambiguity and choices of Meloni’s party are the eight elected from the ranks of the 5 Star Movement and the two from the ranks of the Green/Left Alliance (all part of the Left Group). “What surprises me is that for the first time in the history of direct elections to the European Parliament, we have an incumbent government of a founding country that did not vote for the president of the Commission candidate,” attacked M5S delegation leader Pasquale Tridico, who also did not spare criticism of the re-elected number one of the EU executive: “We have heard about an arms commissioner for defence, our vote was therefore against.” Ilaria Salis (an expression of the Italian Left part of the common platform with Green Europe) also confirmed her vote against in line with the Left Group: “In full continuity with the previous mandate, her Commission will represent the Europe of borders and Frontex, which criminalizes migration, which continues to propose systematic racism in continuity with its colonial past.”

And finally, there is the Lega, the third partner in government with Forza Italia and Fratelli d’Italia, which proudly claims its vote against von der Leyen and its membership in the far-right group Patriots for Europe (PfE). “The great scam is accomplished, they wanted it, they did it, they will be held accountable,” threatens Lega’s MEP Susanna Ceccardi: “We of the Lega, we Patriots for Europe have opposed and will also oppose von der Leyen and her majority for the next five years.” The head of the Lega’s delegation, Paolo Borchia, clarifies that it will be a “constructive and proactive opposition, with many ideas” during the legislature that has just begun but denounces that “we have started the legislature badly with zero propensity for dialogue on the part of von der Leyen against those who represent millions of voters and the third group in the Europarliament.” Leghist members are tight-lipped on Meloni, Fratelli d’Italia and the Italian commissioner’s game when hot weeks are ahead for the governing partners in Rome. Far more than divided in Strasbourg over the most decisive vote in the European Parliament.