Tajani: Italy will work well with both Trump and Harris. Gentiloni: choice of Biden for the good of his country
"It is not up to us to insert ourselves into the US election campaign," says the foreign minister, not least because "we are friends of the US regardless".
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Nothing will change in relations between Italy and the United States. The first reaction of the government and its majority comes almost in unison through the words of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. "It is not up to us to insert ourselves into the US election campaign," Tajani says, also because "we are friends of the US regardless" and "we will work well both with Trump and with Harris". But 'the choice Biden has made,' he adds, 'is probably the right one for his party and for the party he has led so far'. 'I don't think, however,' Crosetto argues, 'that the change in the race will change the outcome of the election by much. We will see'. Aeven for the president of Noi Moderati, Maurizio Lupi, the US "is and always will be a strategic ally for Italy regardless of who will lead the White House". The hope that can be discerned in the various comments is that now at least they should 'tone it down'.
Gentiloni: statesmanlike choice for his country
"A statesmanlike decision, that of Joe Biden. For the good of his country'. Thus, on X, the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, after the American president's choice to retire from the electoral race. Another socialist member of the outgoing Commission, Cohesion Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, applauds Biden: 'The hallmark of leadership is knowing when to step aside,' she writes on X.
Conte: an act of responsibility
The Democratic candidate's step back, is, for M5S president Giuseppe Conte, 'an act of responsibility', while for the Democratic Party's foreign affairs manager Peppe Provenzano, it is a 'courageous and wise gesture, worthy of someone who has served the institutions all his life'. And 'the economic and social successes of his presidency,' he adds, 'will remain above all for the workers. Now, is the call coming from all the opposition, is to 'beat Trump and save democracy in America'.
Salvini: withdrawal finally announced
Of a completely different opinion is the post entrusted to social media by vice-premier Matteo Salvini, who invites followers to say what they think about the candidate indicated by Biden, Kamala Harris, now that 'the "worst US president in history", as Trump called him', has 'finally announced his withdrawal from the race for the White House'. "Getting him this far, humiliating him all the way, only to have him withdraw. It's a party without morals," writes Leghist Senator Claudio Borghi on X. "The future of the United States is called Donald Trump," declares another Lega MP, Paolo Formentini.
Casini: he who loves politics, serves his country
"Biden - is the judgement of Avs MP Angelo Bonelli - has done the right thing" because if Trump wins "it would be a disaster for the whole planet" since "he will stop climate policies and will be the enemy of the Palestinian people". "Biden has been a symbol of weakness despite his willingness to stay on the court," says Fi's group leader in the Senate Maurizio Gasparri and "never before has the invocation 'God bless America' been valid because America's good will be our good." Biden 'has shown once again that he is a great American' because 'he who loves politics, serves his country', writes Pier Ferdinando Casini.
