Controversy in Italy after Dmitry Medvedev's call to "punish" the government in the elections
Most commentators and the political class interpreted Dmitry Medvedev's message as a call to elect the coalition of the right and far-right, formed by Silvio Berlusconi, Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini, here at a meeting in Rome October 19, 2019. © Andrew Medichini/AP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Just over a month before the general elections in Italy on September 25, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday August 18 called on Europeans to “
punish
” their “
stupid
” governments.
Seeming to support the right-wing and far-right coalition, which brings together Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia, and Matteo Salvini's League, his remarks sparked controversy, some denouncing "
interference
".
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The Russian shadow is indeed hovering
over the electoral campaign in Italy
.
As evidenced by the message of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev posted on Telegram on Thursday: "
We would like to see European citizens not only be indignant at the actions of their governments (...) but to hold them to account and punish them for their obvious stupidities
.
Something to outrage all the leaders of the centrist and left-wing forces, reports
our correspondent in Rome,
Anne Le Nir
.
For
Democratic Party Secretary Enrico Letta
, "
the people who would be happiest in the world if [Giorgia] Meloni won the election are
[Vladimir]
Putin,
[Donald]
Trump, and in Europe
[Viktor]
Orban
", he said in an interview with CNN.
He also demanded that the League denounce the pact it had signed with United Russia, the party of Vladimir Putin.
Especially since, as the outgoing Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio points out, "
the Italian parties should react in unison, but
(the leader of the 5 Star Movement and former Prime Minister Giuseppe)
Conte and
(the leader of the far-right League Matteo)
Salvini are silent
”, he added, denouncing “
Russian interference in the Italian elections
”.
Salvini planned to go to Moscow after the start of the war in Ukraine
Matteo Salvini affirms that the Italians need “
only their brains to choose their new government
”.
The boss of the League, who had considered going to Moscow after the start of the Russian invasion before giving up, defended himself: "
I have not been going to Russia for years
(...)
Russia does not
does not have the slightest influence on the Italian elections
".
Giorgia Meloni paraded.
And as for Silvio Berlusconi, who had trouble cutting ties with Vladimir Putin, he is content to recall that he “
always condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine
”.
Italy, under outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi, has so far unreservedly supported Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
Rome has provided weapons and humanitarian aid to kyiv, although many criticize the government for being slow to adopt a position.
This could change if the coalition of the rights, more Russophile and
given favorite in the polls
, comes to power.
► To read also:
Given at the head of the Italian legislative elections, the head of Fratelli d'Italia wants to reassure
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Italy
Russia
Mario Draghi
Enrico Letta
Matteo Salvini
Ukraine
Dmitry Medvedev
Silvio Berlusconi