Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to wait for the official nomination of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament before deciding on the presidency of the future European Commission.
“The proposal is a matter for the EPP, and when it is ready we will make our assessments,” Meloni said on Saturday at the end of the G7 summit in southern Italy.
She said it was important that Italy received “appropriate” attention in the new Commission. It must also be clear “that Europe has understood the message of the European elections.”
The EPP, a group of conservative parties across the continent, performed best in last Sunday’s European elections. It wants current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to get a second five-year term in Brussels.
However, it is uncertain whether the German conservative politician would receive enough votes from her current supporters in the European Parliament if she were nominated by the EU heads of state or government. She may therefore have to rely on the votes of Meloni’s far-right party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy).
