The recording of a secretly recorded speech by Silvio Berlusconi to colleagues from his Forza Italia party puts pressure on election winner Giorgia Meloni. With statements about his ‘friend’ Vladimir Putin, the former Italian head of government had once again raised doubts about the determination of the future government to act against Moscow. Meloni made it clear on Wednesday evening that her cabinet would strongly support the EU and NATO. “With us in government, Italy will never be the weak link in the West,” said the post-fascist.
President Sergio Mattarella started talks with the parties on Thursday morning about forming a government. Official negotiations begin on Friday. Meloni, president of the Fratelli d’Italia (Italian Brothers), stressed beforehand: “I intend to lead a government with a clear and unambiguous line in foreign policy. Italy is a full member of the EU and NATO. Anyone who does not agree cannot be part of the government.” The 45-year-old also indirectly referred to Berlusconi.
In that speech, he meant that the Ukrainian resistance was responsible for the war in Ukraine. Kremlin chief Putin invaded Ukraine to replace the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with “decent people”. However, during the invasion, Putin was “faced with an unpredictable situation of resistance from the Ukrainians,” who “received money and weapons from the West from the third day.” “So the war has changed from a two-week operation to a 200-year war,” Berlusconi said. He also complained that there are no real leaders in Europe or the US. “There is only me as leader,” said the 86-year-old conservative politician.
In an interview with the daily Corriere della Sera, Berlusconi explained his statements: “I in no way deny my former friendly relations with Vladimir Putin, but today circumstances have changed.” The media czar denied blaming Ukraine for the war. “The whole thing has been taken out of context. The audio recording of my statements was released for the sole purpose of spreading slander and misinformation,” he said.
The ex-Prime Minister’s statements had sparked heated reactions in Rome. “Berlusconi’s words are unacceptable,” criticized Social Democratic leader Enrico Letta. The leader of the Five Star Movement of the opposition and ex-Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that according to Berlusconi’s statements, his “right-hand man” Antonio Tajani could no longer claim the position of foreign minister. Former EU parliament leader Tajani is considered the favorite for the position of foreign minister in the new Meloni government.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
