Before Italy's elections, Salvini doubts Russia's sanctions - and falls over again after being scolded from the right

Created: 09/05/2022, 16:10

By: Patrick Freiwah

Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega party and Giorgia Meloni of the ultra-right party Fratelli d'Italia.

© IMAGO/Matteo Bazzi

How far is Italy drifting away from the EU course?

Before the government elections, Matteo Salvini criticizes the sanctions against Russia.

One of the most important allies is distancing itself.

ROME - The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Italian right-wing populist Matteo Salvini is one of the critics of the measures, who mainly perceive the damage to their own people.

For an extremely bold move in the election campaign before the Italian election, the Lega boss is now even reaping frowns in his own camp.

Several months have passed since the sanctions against Russia began, and people would "pay their bills twice and quadruple," said the 49-year-old on Italian radio station RTL.

In contrast, after seven months of the Ukraine war, "Russia's coffers are filling up with money."

In fact, Russia's energy giant Gazprom recently reported record profits.

However, Salvini is at odds with his most important political allies: Giorgia Meloni, head of the ultra-right party Fratelli d'Italia (FDI), distanced herself from the statements of her possible coalition partner.

If Italy "abandoned its allies" would change "nothing for Ukraine, but a lot for us," Meloni said at an economic forum in Cernobbio on Lake Como.

"A serious country that wants to defend its own interests must have a credible position."

Italy election: Salvini takes a critical look at Russia sanctions - and is met with headwind

Mara Carfagna, Minister for southern Italy, echoed the criticism and accused Salvini of allowing Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin to exploit him: "When I hear Salvini talking about sanctions, it seems to me that I'm hearing Putin's propaganda ", she said.

Until a few months ago, the politician was a member of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, but left it to protest against her shared responsibility for the overthrow of Mario Draghi's government.

However, a short time later, during his own appearance in the small town of Cernobbio, Matteo Salvini qualified his statements regarding the sanctions against Russia: "If we want to continue with this, then let's do it, we want to protect Ukraine."

But I don't want us to harm ourselves."

Election in Italy: New rights and old friends - who will inherit Mario Draghi?

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While Salvini sees the effects of the Russia sanctions so far mainly as negative for his homeland ("it is important to rethink the strategy and secure jobs in Italy"), one of the main political rivals immediately goes on a confrontational course: Enrico Letta, head of the Democratic Party (PD), countered Salvini's statement with the words: "I think Putin could not have said it better."

Matteo Salvini and Russia: Allies Meloni takes a counter position

Meanwhile, Italy's dependence on Putin is also causing other electoral disputes: This includes the dispute over a liquid gas terminal in a Mediterranean city.