Berlin.
Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni visits Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. How does he react to sensitive discussion questions?
A meeting that was eagerly awaited: Italy’s post-fascist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin. For more than three months has been the chairman of the party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) in office. Although she had railed against the EU and Germany during the election campaign, she is pragmatic in office and dignified – also during her first visit to the chancellery. also read: Giorgia Meloni: The post-fascist who rules Italy
Both sides were respectful and polite, but not particularly cordial. He calls her “Giorgia”, she calls him “Chancellor”. The 46-year-old – the first woman to head an Italian government – was greeted with military honours. After the big welcome, sensitive topics were on the agenda: the war in Ukraine or the migration question. Topics where it would have been expected that the views of Scholz and Meloni could differ widely. But the extreme right politician continues to be pragmatic in Berlin – and thus remains true to her previous style of government. Also interesting: 100 days Meloni: “Wolf in sheep’s clothing” surprises skeptics
Whether it’s the Ukraine war or the refugee issue: Meloni remains pragmatic
Of course, Ukraine must receive military support, said Meloni. Your right-wing populist coalition partners Silvio Berlusconi from the Forza Italia and Matteo Salvini from the Lega like to present themselves as Putin friends. Nevertheless, Meloni now explained: Diplomacy can only be effective if there is a relative balance between the two warring parties; only then could both sides be brought to the negotiating table.
Also in the refugee question were from her no shrill tones listen. According to Meloni, human traffickers should not determine this discussion; rather, a responsible and solidary response at EU level is needed. However, she also made it clear that in her eyes war refugees from Ukraine needed more protection than “economic refugees from Africa”.
Greens demand a “crystal clear” distance from Scholz
Although her first 100 days in office by a lot of pragmatism were shaped, politicians warn against getting too involved with the Meloni government. Rasmus Andresen, spokesman for the German Greens in the European Parliament, called for Scholz to distance himself from Meloni’s politics “crystal clear”. “With her tour of Europe, Giorgia Meloni wants to gain approval and recognition for herself as head of government and for her nationalist alliance. She is preparing a conservative right-wing alliance that will also include the CDU/CSU. The consequence would be a dismantling of our European democracy and a dismantling of human rights,” said the Green of our editorial team.
CSU boss Markus Soder on the other hand, an alliance between the European People’s Party (EPP) and Fratelli d’Italia is ruled out at EU level. “It’s not compatible, it can’t be, or a formal coalition can’t be wanted under any circumstances,” he told the dpa after a meeting of the CSU board in Munich. EPP President Manfred Weber, who attended the CSU meeting took part had met Meloni twice in the past few months and thus caused irritation not only within the Christian Democratic party family EPP.
Scholz and Meloni, however, emphasized after the state visit close relationships both countries, the intensive cooperation and the will to continue to cooperate closely. Both seem to agree on key issues. Asked about an earlier interview in which Meloni allegedly spoke about her allergy to Germany, the Italian Prime Minister laughed away. She couldn’t remember that anymore. You might also be interested in: Giorgia Meloni and Mussolini: This symbol betrays them
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