by Alessia Peretti
EU lawmakers’ approval of Raffaele Fitto as one of the European Commission’s new executive vice presidents has provoked mixed reactions in Italy.
Matteo Salvini’s Lega (PfE) praised the man from the government-allied Fratelli d’Italia party and reiterated its intention not to back the von der Leyen Commission. The Italian Greens decided not to vote for the new Commission.
Fitto, a key member of Fratelli d’Italia and former European affairs minister, has been assigned the portfolio on cohesion and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
Meloni, meanwhile, hailed her party colleague’s appointment as a success for the nation.
“This is a victory for all Italians, not just the government or a single political force. It reaffirms Italy’s central role in Europe, in line with our standing as a founding EU member, Europe’s second-largest manufacturer, and its third-largest economy,” she said.
Fratelli d’Italia (ECR), which did not vote for von der Leyen’s first appointment as Commission president, has confirmed that it will support the new Commission in the European Parliament plenary vote on 27 November.
During a Thursday session in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Fitto received a standing ovation after remarks by Fratelli d’Italia’s parliamentary leader, Tommaso Foti, who described the appointment as "a victory for Italy and for the prime minister".
Lega MP Stefano Candiani (PfE) also backed Fitto in the Chamber of Deputies, acknowledging the party’s opposition to von der Leyen’s majority in Europe but celebrating the nomination as "a significant achievement for our country".
Meanwhile, Partito Democratico (PD/S&D) spokesperson Peppe Provenzano struck a more cautious tone.
He wished Fitto well but stressed that the new Commission would not bridge policy gaps for the Democratic Party. He also pointed to discrepancies between Fitto’s statements during his confirmation hearing and the policies of the Meloni government.
"During his hearing, Fitto contradicted all the political positions advocated by this majority," he said, adding that he was committed “to pursuing European interests not only by the treaties but also following the guidelines presented by von der Leyen in July" including "defending the Green Deal against potential rollbacks," he added.
The delegation of the Italian Greens announced its opposition to the second von der Leyen Commission, citing a shift from a centre-left to a centre-right coalition. "In just three months, the von der Leyen Commission has shifted from a centre-left coalition to a new centre-right coalition. This undermines the values and programmes of the Greens/EFA," it said.
“This realignment makes it impossible for us to support the new College of Commissioners,” they said.
Valentina Palmisano of the Five Star Movement also criticised the process, calling it a “farce” and lamenting a loss for European democracy.
“Transparency was lacking, candidates were not evaluated on merit, and regulations were disregarded when additional statements with no legal value were included in the final report,” she added.
*first published in: Εuractiv.com
By: N. Peter Kramer
