Home Featured Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right European Parliament group split on supporting von der Leyen – POLITICO
Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right European Parliament group split on supporting von der Leyen – POLITICO

Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right European Parliament group split on supporting von der Leyen – POLITICO

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“It’s not a big secret … that there will be a split in the ECR group,” said Roberts Zīle, a senior Latvian MEP, who said he’s yet to make up his mind on which way to vote. 

The biggest division in the ECR could be between the Poles, who are dead set against voting for von der Leyen, and the Italians, who may vote in favor.

At the behind-closed-doors meeting, Brothers of Italy MEP Carlo Fidanza pressed von der Leyen for a “radical change of pace” on the Green Deal and more clarity on her agricultural policy. He also praised her migration-curbing deals with Tunisia and Egypt, according to a press release that did not indicate how the 24 Italian MEPs will vote.

For and against

Italian Prime Minister Meloni abstained on voting for von der Leyen when national leaders had their say on EU top jobs last month. Abstaining in Thursday’s vote would be tantamount to voting against von der Leyen.

“Those who are in governments like Meloni, Brothers of Italy, my own party, ODS, back home, Flemish N-VA. I believe that they will be tempted to vote in favor, although it’s not still taken for granted,” said Jan Zahradil, a departing MEP from the Czech ODS party.

Zahradil added that those parts of ECR would need to win concessions from von der Leyen, for example on getting strong portfolios for the next Italian and Czech commissioners.

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