Premier Giorgia Meloni said Saturday
that her interview with the Financial Times in which she said it
was "childish" to suggest Italy had to choose between being on
the side of the European Union or President Donald Trump's
United States has been misinterpreted.
In the interview Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers
of Italy (FdI) party, also called for calm as the EU plans its
response to the Trump administration's tariffs.
Opposition politicians said the interview showed Meloni was
actually on Trump's side, with Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly
Schlein accusing her of being a Trojan horse for the US
administration in Europe.
"I am astonished by the interpretation of my interview with the
FT: it is scandalous," the premier said at the congress of the
centrist, opposition Azione party.
"(They say) Meloni declares that she is with Trump and against
Europe'.
"But that is not what I said. I said that I am always on Italy's
side, that Italy is in Europe and its role must also be that of
defending the unity of the West
"I want to thank (EC President) Ursula von der Leyen, who has
given an interview to reiterate this position.
"I think it is my responsibility to do what I can to defend this
unity or rebuild it if necessary.
"Of course there are issues were are divided on, starting with
the tariffs.
"But precisely for this reason, I think that we cannot act on
impulse but with balance".
"I hear (party) leaders in Italy calling for a break with the
US. Schlein says they cannot be our allies.
"And there are other leaders who, at the same time, support the
line that Europe should not spend money on its own security.
"I don't understand. Is the proposal to break all forms of
alliance with the US, but ask them to take care of our security
all the same, or is it for Europe to become a big, demilitarised
hippie community that hopes in the good faith of other foreign
powers?".
The premier also admitted that "not everything is going well"
for the Italian economy.
"I am well aware that the situation in which we are moving makes
the veins in our wrists shake," she said.
"Everything is too complex and unpredictable and we must be
prepared for many different scenarios.
"I believe that the priorities we have identified are the right
ones and that we were right when we said that Italy needs a
government with a medium to long term strategy".
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