Why is Matteo Salvini backing Mario Draghi?
The support of Matteo Salvini's right-wing populist, Eurosceptic party Lega for Italy's new government has surprised many observers, not only in Italy. On closer inspection, however, commentators find a number of reasons for this change of stance.
No one runs away when money falls from heaven
La Vanguardia is not so surprised by Lega's unexpected support for the new government:
“It is not just because of his high standing that most of the political parties are rallying behind Draghi in a rare show of unity. It also has a lot to do with the fact that, in anticipation of 209 billion euros in European aid, hardly any of the parties wants to position itself too far away from the government. If things go as expected, most of the important portfolios - that of the interior, foreign affairs, justice, etc. - will go to members with a technocratic profile. But it's also likely that some posts will go to members of the parties that support Draghi.”
Italexit off the agenda
The U-turn of the Eurosceptics exposes their stance as a farce, comments Corriere del Ticino mockingly:
“In anticipation of the developments in Rome, many sovereigntists and populists have plenty to think about. After all, until not so long ago their strategy for Italy was to leave the euro and the EU. Now this line of action seems to have disappeared as if by magic, and some of them are even willing not just to back the Draghi government, but to join it, too. All we can say is that if Italexit wasn't a good idea before, considering the history and reality of the peninsula, the facts now confirm it as even more unfeasible.”
Lega making room on the far right
Salvini is trying to escape the competition on the far right by moving towards the centre, Népszava observes:
“For a while now, Salvini has clearly been trying to portray himself as a more moderate right-wing politician than before. ... This is probably due to the polls, which put Giorgia Meloni's right-wing populist party, the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) in third place. ... A future new Draghi government could accelerate Salvini's moderation process. But that also means the Hungarian government will have one less ally at the EU level.”