How can we reconcile these four sentences, pronounced in the heat of the moment even though the polling stations had not yet closed their doors in Italy?
The first came from the mouth of Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission: “The European People’s Party (EPP) is the main force in Parliament. We will build a bastion against the extremes, right and left. We will stop them.”
The second is signed by Manfred Weber, the head of the PPE group: “I invite the Socialists and Renew to join us in a pro-European alliance.”
The third is from Pedro Marques, the vice-president of the European Socialists: “It is imperative to avoid any coalition with the extreme right; no coalition with the CRE [Conservateurs et réformistes européens] and ID [Identité et Démocratie].”
The fourth is from Assita Kanko, Belgian MEP and vice-president of the CRE, the conservative group led by Giorgia Meloni: “Over the last five years we have done a good job with von der Leyen. I don’t see what could prevent us from working with her.” Suffice to say that it is a real slalom that awaits the Prime Minister [italienne] in Brussels.
These are the joys and sorrows of a victory which
