Warning to Brussels: Mess with Italian election and risk another EU upset, says Tajani

Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament and a member of Silvio Berlusconi’s party Forza Italia, warned the European Commission, asking unelected figures in Brussels to refrain from commenting on the upcoming general election in

In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Mr Tajani said the Commission has the right to demand stability from the next Italian Government, but that striking any attack against the running parties would be counterproductive. 

He said: “I think the European Commission should limit its comments about Italy to generic ones to avoid reactions contrary to their objectives. 

“If they say Italy needs stability they are right. It’s clear Italy needs a stable Government. Just as they seek stability for Germany, they should do so in Italy as well, perhaps with different strategies.”

In the interview, Mr Tajani said he is not worried about Northern League’s leader Matteo Salvini and his rallies against the European Union.

He said: “Euroscepticism takes us outside of the continental games, but I think the messages against Europe are fading. The Northern League is going from being eurosceptic to eurocritic. I am more worried about the Five Star Movement in that sense.”

Far-right party the Northern League and Silvio Berlusconi’s party Forza Italia have announced a pre-election coalition together with centre-right party Fratelli d’Italia. 

In a newly published joint manifesto, the coalition promised a revision of the European treaties and vowed to concentrate on more politics and less bureaucracy in Europe.

The coalition also promised to reduce the annual contributions to the EU and to regain national sovereignty over European directives on the basis of the German model.

EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said the Italian vote is “a political risk for the European Union”.

During a conference in Paris, Mr Moscovici said: “Italy is preparing for elections whose results are more than uncertain. What majority will the vote return? What programme and commitment to Europe? In a contest where the Italian economic situation is not the best on a European level, happy are those who can forecast the results.”

At the news of Mr Moscovici’s comments, Matteo Salvini blasted against the eurocrat saying his comments were an “unacceptable intrusion from a European bureaucrat in Italy’s elections”. 

The Italian politician, in the run as Italy’s next Prime Minister, has raged against the current European measures and has pledged to follow the UK outside the bloc if the Union will not listen to his demands.

Mr Tajani also criticised Mr Moscovici’s comments, saying: “He is a French socialist Commissioner, he does not speak on behalf of the European Union. It’s true that there is concern about lack of stability, but I think there will be a stable government, Italians will go to vote to make this country count more.

“Had I been in Moscovici’s place, I would have been more prudent.”