France, Meloni: 'Overcome barriers between alternative forces on the left'

Giorgia Meloni in her first hot comment on the French elections noted, positively, the fact that the old barriers between the alternative forces to the left are being overcome: and it seems to me,' she emphasised, 'that even in France we are going in this direction.

In the meantime, I have noticed a great participation in the vote in France and this is always a very positive fact. On the political level,' he said, commenting on the result of the legislative elections in France, 'I congratulate the Rassemblement National and its allies on their clear affirmation in the first round. As for the runoff, you know that I always treat the political and electoral dynamics of other nations with respect'.

'Of course,' Meloni continued, 'we are facing a very polarised scenario and if you ask me whether I prefer the left, in some cases quite extreme, or the right... Of course I prefer the right. I have always hoped, also at the European level, that the old barriers between the forces alternative to the left would disappear,' the Prime Minister remarked, 'and it seems to me that in France, too, we are moving in this direction. For the first time, Le Pen's party has had allies from the first round (Marion Maréchal and former Républicain leader Eric Ciotti) and for the first time it seems to me that even the Républicains are oriented towards not participating in the so-called 'republican front'. I say this because I notice something that in different forms also happens in Italy: the constant attempt to demonise and corner the people who do not vote for the Left. It is a trick that serves to escape from confrontation on the merits of the different political proposals. But it is a trick that fewer and fewer people are falling for... we have seen it in Italy, we see it more and more in Europe and throughout the West,' Meloni concluded.

Vice-Premier Matteo Salvini also spoke on the new power relations in Europe. 'Would we join the group of patriots launched by Orban in Europe? Uniting those who put work, family, the future of young people at the centre seems to me the right way. That's what the League has been hoping for for a long time. We are evaluating all the documents, but it seems to me the right path,' the League leader told Radio1.

When they vote 'the citizens are always right', the deputy prime minister added, and the French elections are 'also useful at European level' since in Brussels 'they are building the same alliance hypothesis'. 'Le Pen,' Salvini continued, 'took the votes of more than a third of the French people' and this 'extremism alarm is crazy' because it is not 'extreme right but an alternative movement to the left' for which so many 'workers' voted. As for the desistance pact, he commented: 'It seems curious to me that those who protested in the streets against Macron' are now allying 'for fear of losing their jobs. Then one wonders why people don't go and vote'.