As the official results from Austria’s general election have confirmed a win for Herbert Kickl’s far-right FPÖ party, the ruling coalition in Italy is divided over what to think of the victor.
“Every neo-Nazi resurgence must be rejected,” said Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a strong statement on Monday.
“I believe Austria needs a government led by the centre, excluding the Freedom Party (FPÖ). Political battles are always won in the centre to prevent damage from being done by extremists on the right or left… The far right can never win on its own, as we’ve seen in France,” the Forza Italia leader (EPP) explained.
Tajani’s comments provoked a strong reaction from Matteo Salvini’s Lega, which celebrated the success of its ally in the Patriotic for Europe group in Strasbourg.
“It’s ridiculous to call the FPÖ Nazis,” said Paolo Borchia, head of Lega’s delegation to the European Parliament, in response to Tajani’s remarks.
“It’s up to Austrian voters to decide, not Tajani,” he added.
Salvini reiterated his satisfaction with the “excellent result for our allies” in what seemed almost a direct response to Tajani’s words.
“This morning, someone mentioned Nazism: either someone’s not sleeping well, or they’re eating too heavily, because I don’t think there’s a neo-Nazi alarm in France, Germany, Austria, or the Netherlands,” Salvini added.
“Tajani and Salvini are at it again,” commented Five Star Movement MP Mario Furore (The Left). “FPÖ leaders have called South Tyrol an integral part of Austria. What’s the next step if they come to power? Annexation? Matteo Salvini should remember he swore an oath to the Italian Constitution,” Furore added.
The province of South Tyrol was part of Austria-Hungary until the end of the First World War when it was ceded to Italy under the terms of the Treaty of Saint-Germain in 1919.
(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)