France wants to closely monitor compliance with fundamental rights in Italy

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French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne

Photo: CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

Italy voted – and rewarded right-wing extremist Giorgia Meloni with an absolute majority.

While Europe's right-wingers cheer, the rest of the continent worries about future dealings with the EU country.

Now French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has insisted on the protection of fundamental rights in all EU member states.

"In Europe we have a set of values ​​and of course we will be mindful that these values ​​are respected by everyone when it comes to human rights and the right to abortion," Borne told BFMTV on Monday.

She did not comment on the election result as such.

France's ex-president François Hollande warned of a similar development as in Italy in his own country.

"The victory of the extreme right in Italy is both a threat to fundamental rights and a risk of paralysis in Europe," Hollande said.

"It's also a warning," added the Socialist.

"Given the confusion in politics and with the disappearance of parties, what happened in Italy can also happen in France."

Threats of an »arrogant European Union«

Meanwhile, France's right-wing nationalist Marine Le Pen congratulated Meloni, head of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia.

"The Italian people have chosen to take their destiny back into their own hands by electing a patriotic and sovereign government," Le Pen said in the morning.

Meloni and her ally Matteo Salvini defied threats of "an anti-democratic and arrogant European Union" and won this great victory.

The AfD also reacted enthusiastically to the electoral victory of the right: "We, as an Alternative for Germany, congratulate Giorgia Meloni on her election and wish her to be the first woman to head an Italian government," they said in a statement Federal Presidents Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.

Like the Swedes before them, the Italians have now opted for a "change of policy."

"Germany is pretty much alone in Europe with its left-green traffic light coalition," concluded the co-chairs.

mrc/dpa