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Olaf Scholz: Congratulations to Rome
Photo:
Felix Hörhager / dpa
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) congratulated the new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on taking office.
"Congratulazioni, Giorgia Meloni," Scholz tweeted, using the Italian word for "congratulations."
He is looking forward to "continuing to work closely with Italy in the EU, NATO and G7," wrote Scholz.
At the same time, Scholz thanked the previous Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi for “the good German-Italian partnership in recent years”.
Previously, top representatives of the EU and NATO had offered the ultra-right Italian head of government cooperation.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that she was looking forward to "constructive cooperation" with the new government.
Meloni, leader of the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia (FDI), took her oath of office on Saturday.
Under the new right-wing government with the conservative Forza Italia led by ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini's right-wing populist League, Italy's stance on the issue of migration is likely to become more hostile.
The alliance also emphasized that it wanted to do more for Italy's interests.
However, Meloni promised that under her leadership, Italy would remain "fully and head held high" a part of Europe and NATO.
hba/AFP/dpa