It divides the sides, and creates some doubts even within the individual parties: the 800 billion rearmament plan for Europe announced by Ursula von der Leyen shakes up Italian politics and creates an additional problem in the majority with Matteo Salvini rejecting the idea of making debt for weapons that is instead promoted by Fdi («We have always asked for the activation of the safeguard clause») while Antonio Tajani defends the president of the Commission, targeted by her allies in the Northern League. The proposals were discussed this evening by the prime minister and the deputy prime ministers in a summit at Palazzo Chigi.
The contents of the summit are not known, but the three leaders had already said their piece. Tajani's 'Rearm Europe' plan will lead to "concrete steps forward to build an indispensable European defense" and was "the great dream of De Gasperi and Berlusconi."
It will be necessary to see the details, explain the Melonians, on the front of common investments to avoid "imbalances" towards the simple purchase of armaments that could favor some European countries (like France) more, but the idea is also promoted by FdI.
Matteo Salvini completely disagrees: "Is it in our interest to spend 800 billion (ours) to buy weapons while the EU itself does not allow us to spend a few billion (ours) to build schools and hospitals?"
The opposition also rejects the Von der Leyen plan, although emphasizing different issues. Ursula von der Leyen's "is not the right path" says Elly Schlein after the first no to the plan came from the Democratic Party, through the voice of Andrea Orlando, because "that is not the EU we would like". For the Dems, what is needed is a "common defense" not a race to "national rearmament".
Even for the reformist grassroots area, which recognizes the "unavoidable need for growth in European defense", the plan needs changes because "there is little courage" in the direction of a real common plan, as underlined by the president of Copasir Lorenzo Guerini.
A firm no comes from Giuseppe Conte, who speaks of the "warmongering fury" of the President of the Commission and will not deploy the 5 Star Movement in the square on March 15, because "we are for a greener and more supportive Europe", not "military green".