“We will see the result of the vote in Italy, there were also elections in Sweden. If things go in a difficult direction, we have tools, as in the case of Poland and Hungary ”.
Thus Ursula Von der Leyen in a debate in Princeton, answering a question about the possible result of the elections in Italy given that, it was pointed out, among the candidates there are figures close to Putin.
Democracy "needs each of us, it is a constant job, it is never safe", said the president of the EU Commission, citing the cases of Poland and Hungary where there were problems with "the independence of the judiciary" and "corruption".
Von der Leyen also specified that " we work with any democratic government ", but the reference to Hungary, recently condemned by the EU Parliament because "it is no longer a democracy", did not like our politicians.
THE REACTIONS
Above all to Matteo Salvini, so much so that the League's MEPs have presented a question to the EU Commission demanding clarification and asking if they do not consider this intervention " damaging to the principle of independence " of the EU executive.
"Words of unprecedented gravity", attacks the leader of the Northern League, " would lead to resignation or immediate apologies ". “What is blackmail, a threat, institutional bullying? In a European Union to which Italy is a net contributor, three days after the vote, it is truly unworthy, embarrassing and institutionally incorrect to threaten the Italians and say: 'If you don't vote as I think, then we'll pull your ears' ”.
"It will certainly clarify, because her sentence lends itself to ambiguity ", declares Enrico Letta, recalling that Von der Leyen "comes from the same party to which Berlusconi and Tajani belong, she is not a dangerous communist , we are talking about an absolutely balanced person which has nothing prejudicial to that cultural area ".
“Our democracy must not take lessons from anyone. Italians are free to vote as they see fit , Italy is a country where all the rules are respected and which asks for respect ", declares Antonio Tajani" perplexed "by the words of Von der Leyen, which" risk being an interference in the election campaign".
Matteo Renzi also criticizes the president of the EU Commission: “With great respect I tell you that we do not accept judgments on our free democratic game , we claim the right to choose our representatives. Von der Leyen respects his role and works for an EU where the president of the Commission is directly elected by the citizens ”.
The irony of Moscow is not lacking, with the Russian Embassy in Rome commenting on its social channels as follows: “ New Russian interference? No, she is not Russian ... ".
THE PRECISATION
“The president - spokesman Eric Mamer later clarified - explicitly said that the Commission will work with all the governments that come out of the elections. She tried to explain the role of guardian of the treaties of the Commission and in particular in the field of the rule of law ”.
Again: "I think it is absolutely clear that President Von der Leyen did not intervene in the Italian elections when she spoke of instruments and referred to procedures underway in other countries ".
(Unioneonline / L)
