It is the successor party to ex-dictator Mussolini - and yet CSU Vice President Manfred Weber is looking for closeness to Meloni and her ultra-right Fratelli d'Italia.
Brussels/Rome/Munich – The leader of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber (CSU), is coming under increasing pressure from within his own ranks.
The reason for the fierce criticism is Weber's contacts with Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Members of his own group in the EU Parliament and other leading European politicians are appalled that the CSU deputy has not recently rejected an alliance with the ultra-right Fratelli d'Italia (Italy's brothers).
This is reported by fr.de.
"The firewall to the right must always be in place - from Palermo to Wattenscheid, from Brussels to Rome," says CDU MEP Dennis Radtke of the
German Press Agency
(dpa).
The group says that there is massive resistance to Weber's course.
CSU politician causes a stir with statement about right-wing "brothers of Italy".
Manfred Weber, CSU politician from Lower Bavaria, is both President of the EPP Christian Democratic party family and head of the EPP parliamentary group in the EU Parliament.
While the 50-year-old is not suspected of being right-wing, he recently positioned his EPP with a striking statement on Meloni's party.
As party and faction leader, he naturally has the ambition that the EPP will remain the strongest force after the 2024 European elections, he told the newspapers of the
Funke media group
.
He shares concern about the history of Meloni's post-fascist party.
But basically there are three fundamental principles in the EPP: pro-rule of law, pro-Europe, pro-Ukraine.
"Meloni is constructive on Europe, stands by Ukraine, and there are no problems with the rule of law in Italy."
A rejection of an alliance with the Italian post-fascists sounds different.
CSU politicians under criticism: Weber in close contact with the leaders of Italy's right-wing party
It is hardly surprising that Weber is looking for new partners for his family of parties, whose power in Europe is declining.
But can this result in the successor party to the MSI movement founded by fascists and those loyal to Mussolini becoming a member of the EPP?
A party that still has a flame in its coat of arms that commemorates the dictator?
Weber and Meloni have met twice in the past few months.
Meloni herself is also chairwoman of the EKR party family.
In fact, Meloni, who was received with military honors by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday, has been less radical than many feared since her election in September.
Barely in office, she also stopped railing against the EU.
But is that enough?
Weber's coziness with the right-wing party: resistance comes from his own faction
Not really, think Dennis Radtke and other EPP politicians.
"We must not reduce our understanding of politics to pure power tactics," says the CDU man from the Ruhr area.
Christophe Hansen, MP from Luxembourg, also sees a red line in an alliance with the Fratelli.
Meloni's party does not belong in the EPP, he tells the dpa.
At the same time, he emphasizes that one has to work together with the Italian government, since it is elected and has so far spoken pro-European.
Other MPs are clearer, but behind closed doors.
There is talk of Weber's odyssey and massive resistance in the parliamentary group.
But even away from the EPP, Weber's flirt with Meloni caused a lack of understanding.
The Vice President of the EU Parliament Katarina Barley (SPD) speaks of an "absolute no-go".
"What has been missing from Meloni so far is the clear demarcation from fascism and nationalism." Nicola Beer from the FDP, also Vice President, accuses Weber of "apparently having given up his political compass" in order to fish on the right-wing edge.
For Daniel Freund (Greens), Weber strengthens "a right-wing party with extreme positions" with his course.
This strategy is extremely dangerous for the EU.
Criticism of CSU politician Weber: Insight looks different
And Weber himself?
He attaches great importance to the three basic principles of the EPP.
He, who always sees himself as a bridge builder, has emphasized Meloni's constructive behavior so far.
At the same time, he categorically rules out an alliance with the AfD or the Polish PiS party.
Rather, he sees himself as someone who seeks dialogue and tries to integrate others into the European project.
This is precisely why he is considered exotic by many in the CSU.
As a CSU vice, Weber is part of the party leadership, but he is not particularly close to party leader Markus Söder, the relationship between the two is considered tense.
This also became clear when Söder felt the need to make a fundamental clarification on Friday.
With regard to state elections in October: Söder also made clear criticism
He had exchanged views with Weber on the subject for a "long time", said Söder.
Both agree that membership of Meloni's party in the EPP is "out of the question".
"It's not compatible, it can't be, or even a formal coalition can definitely not be wanted," he said.
"The fact that states have to talk to each other or that we are in conversation is something else.
But formal ties do not make sense from my point of view and from our common point of view.”
The reason for Söder's announcement should also be the state elections on October 8th in Bavaria.
With a view to this, he has proclaimed the rule within the party to refrain from anything that could harm the CSU.
(dpa)
