Italy attacks Sánchez and suggests that he is violating the rule of law in Spain

2023-11-30 14:24:40

“In Spain [gobiernan] los secessionists” and the radical left”. With these unusually harsh words, which anticipate the outbreak of diplomatic turbulence between Italy and Spainthe Transalpine Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed, Antonio Tajanithis Thursday.

Tajani, who has ties to Spain and has also been president of the European Parliament (2017-2019), has reacted in this way after Pedro Sánchez said, in an interview with RTVE, that his pacts with together y ERC have served to stop the advance of the far right in Europe. “He 23-J We saved a very important match point. In Argentina, a far-rightist has taken power. They have also won in Holland. In Italy he already governs,” stated the Spanish president.

Some statements, those of the socialist leader, that provoked Tajani’s point-blank reaction. “In Spain the radical left governs. In Italy we have beaten them,” said Tajani, in a message written on the social network X (formerly Twitter), currently the main representative of Forza Italiaone of the three parties that make up the coalition that is part of the current Italian Executive.

In Spain the far left rules. In Italy we defeated it. We respect the rule of law. Does the same happen in Madrid? In Italy the government governs @EPPin Spain the secessionists

— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) November 30, 2023

Rule of law

“We respect the rule of law. ¿Madrid does the same thing,” the minister asked, in a not-so-indirect reference to the draft amnesty carried out by Sánchez to achieve his investiture as head of the Spanish government. “In Italy the European People’s Party governs. In Spain, [gobiernan] the secessionists,” the Italian emphasized.

The setback, the consequences of which will have to be measured in the coming days, has thus broken the apparent ‘pax augustea‘ that until now had been maintained by the Executives of the two neighboring countries, governed – since the electoral victory of the current Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in 2022 – by antithetical forces. Something that had not happened even last April, during Sánchez’s (until now only) visit to Romawhen the Spanish avoided any political tension with the Italian.