Matteo Salvini and Mario Draghi
Salvini senses that Draghi could lead the European Commission and distances himself to win votes on the right
Matteo Salvini attacking Mario Draghi. And it’s not a coincidence at all. Precisely when the name of the former Prime Minister is gaining increasing popularity as the new President of the European Commission, with the inevitable green light of Giorgia Meloni (obtorto neck), the deputy prime minister goes on the counterattack to distance himself from the leader of the Brothers of Italy. Previously the objective was to defeat Ursula von der Leyen, now the focus shifts to SuperMario, again in the context of the electoral campaign for the European elections with a challenge from the entire right.
It is no coincidence at all that today the Lega has released very interesting and targeted excerpts from “Controvento”, Salvini’s book which will be previewed in Milan on 25 April and will be in bookstores from 30 April
Let’s see the excerpts that make the League’s strategy of distancing itself perfectly clear towards Draghi, obviously an excellent president of the Commission Ue.
“Il Colle entrusted the task of forming a new national emergency government to Mario Draghi. A name of international prestige that had been around for some time. In the centre-right, Draghi was highly regarded.
(…) Telephones a Mario Draghi when the government was still to be built, and we agreed to meet privately. The prime minister in pectore showed maximum willingness to collaborate, despite being aware of the dramatic nature of the moment and the difficulty generated by a heterogeneous majority.
We could not imagine the evolution of the crisis Covid with all the lacerating consequences, starting from the debate on personal freedoms, on the balance between the right to health and work, on green passes and vaccines.
Beyond the courtesy of the initial approaches, Prime Minister Draghi chose not to even share the choice of ministers with the party secretaries. I remember I was at home when his phone rang. Palazzo Chigi. Ten minutes from now, the names of the aspiring ministers would be delivered to Colle. I repeat: ten minutes. Draghi told me that he had identified in Giancarlo Giorgetti, Massimo Garavaglia and Erika Stefani the Northern League members deserving of obtaining ministries.
Authoritative names who enjoy my total respect and trust, but the method was obviously wrong. Furthermore, it was a widespread opinion among all parties.”
Here is the first jab at the former Prime Minister and the ECB: “Obviously wrong method” and names of ministers not shared.
Salvini writes again: “It was not the only slip-up, because in the executive which should have been of the best there were some frankly disconcerting names such as the disastrous Luciana Lamorgese confirmed at the Interior Ministry, not to mention Roberto Speranza to Health, up to the irreducible Di Maio to Foreign Affairs, not exactly a brilliant start.
From the maneuver to the appointments, I always expressed to the Prime Minister the utmost determination to simplify his life. Without ever making claims on seats or positions. On the eve of the first economic maneuver, we organize an informal meeting of the League with Minister Giorgetti.
I called Draghi to discuss some measures and explain that the government’s draft on scrapping of tax bills it was absolutely insufficient to achieve the objectives we had promised ourselves. It was and remains our intention to guarantee citizens who have correctly filed their tax return, but who have not managed to honor their debt with the tax authorities, to start again by paying only part of the amount due. Call it settlement and write-off, scrapping or fiscal peace: the important thing is the result.
It is not a reward for the clever or criminals, but a reasonable path to restore dignity and work to those who have found themselves faced with unexpected difficulties. Unfortunately, despite the prime minister’s reassurances, that government did absolutely nothing useful in this direction.”
Here’s another blow from the Northern League secretary a Draghivery heavy.
Salvini also writes: “At the beginning of 2022 the delicate game of Sergio Mattarella’s successor was played. In the press conference at the end of the year, the Prime Minister had made it clear that he considered his mission in government substantially concluded. An exit that in many had read it as an admission of wanting to aim for the Colle. For the first time in history, the centre-right started with better numbers than the centre-left, but not enough to elect its own representative without the support of at least one piece of the rival coalition.
(…) I remember a last meeting with President Draghi in which he explored the availability of the League and the center-right in general for his possible accession to power Colle. To my direct question: “What will happen to the government if he is elected?”, the answer did not come. Or rather, there was a “we’ll talk about it later…””. Another torpedo from Salvini, also on the failure to elect Draghi as president of the Republic.
The Carroccio’s strategy is evident: attack Draghi who will represent the European establishment to seek votes on the right knowing that Meloni, as prime minister, will certainly not be able to say no to SuperMario at the helm of the EU executive. As in a game of chess, Salvini moves his pawns. And the move seems apt, at least in terms of communication and political marketing.