Italian Euroscepticism reflects ‘EXTREME’ tension behind Brexit vote, says think tank CEO

Valerio De Molli, of The European House Ambrosetti, said anti-EU feeling in the European nation was symptomatic of current times.

He said conflicts of opinion in recent years had become “very extreme” and said Italy was also “part of this extremism”.

The commentator told CNBC: “As far as the areas of the Italian stakeholder communities against Europe, it is true the Fiver Star Movement has always expressed anti-euro approach.

“The Northern League expressed a political view very much against it [the EU] and they count for about 10 per cent of the electorate.

“Berlusconi also went up and down, he has been a bit negative so you are right there are part of the country who are against it.

“But this is the natural politics nowadays like in England for instance exactly 51 per cent were for the Brexit but 49 was for the Remain, so these are tensions and conflict of opinions within the electorate tend to be very extreme in this period and Italy nonetheless is part of this extremism.”

The comments come after the Eurosceptic leader of Italy’s rapidly growing Northern League party laid into the European Union and said he wants to see “real change” – or there could be a -style split with the bloc.

Matteo Salvini, who has transformed the right-wing party from a regional political voice to a national populist force, has long been critical of Brussels and his bid to become leader could seriously threaten Italy’s continued membership of the EU.

Speaking to Politico, the 44-year-old said: “We want to give Europe one last chance, but in return, we want to see real change, especially when it comes to Schengen and the Dublin treaty.”

The Dublin Treaty mandates asylum seekers must be processed in the country of first arrival.

He added: “They are outdated and need to be reformed.”

Mr Salvini also slated the EU’s handling of the ongoing migrant crisis, with Italy one of the countries most affected by the unprecedented numbers of refugees arriving on European soil.