"I have no comment to make, it would not be the time. I am still busy for some time in concluding the government programme". Mountains Mountains keeps everyone in suspense. Arriving in Brussels for the European summit this afternoon, the Premier did not want to reveal whether or not he intends to stand as a candidate in the next political elections. An even more important variable later yet another pirouette by Silvio Berlusconi, who yesterday said he was ready to give up the race for Palazzo Chigi if the Professor chose to lead the moderates.
In any case, “whatever the outcome of the elections – Monti reiterated -, the new government will take Italy's traditional line of strong support for European integration, which represents the national interest for Italy and the other European countries, which are stronger if integration proceeds”.
Words that aim to reassure the European People's Party, alarmed by the utterances received in recent days by the Knight, who produced a series of anti-Monti and anti-Germany anathemas. And just today, again in Brussels, a Ppe summit was held, in which both Berlusconi and, surprisingly, Mario Monti took part.
"My opinions, free from any influence, on the current political situation in Italy reflect the position of the EPP group - said Joseph Daul, president of the EPP group in the European Parliament, who in recent days had criticized the PDL for having brought down the government of the Professor -. We have to be honest with European citizens and say that we need rigorous and careful management of public policies by all Member States. We are not on the side of those who do not tell their fellow citizens the truth hoping to get votes in exchange for empty populist promises".
Paradoxically, the statements that the EPP would have preferred to hear from Berlusconi came today from the Italian centre-left. “We wanted Monti – said Pier Luigi Bersani, secretary of the Democratic Party -. I interpret his agenda as rigor and respect for European constraints, an attempt to influence the evolution of European politics, reform and modernization efforts and therefore I reiterate that rigor and credibility are a point of no return”.
Of the same opinion Jose Manuel Barroso. After joining the international chorus in favor of Monti, the president of the European Commission said he spoke with Berlusconi "about the importance of having a stable Italy" and how it is "crucial" that it continues "on the path of reforms".
And the Knight? How did you take this pan-European and bipartisan panegyric of the Professor? “At the moment I am a candidate for Palazzo Chigi", has explained. But the "step back" is by no means impossible: “It depends on how things develop. I don't think Monti accepts being able to become a partisan and party man, but if he decides to adhere to this request, all the moderate alignments would adhere", explained Berlusconi, who only a few days ago railed against the ineffectiveness of the government technician.
There is one condition, however, which at present seems truly unattainable. From the Cavaliere's perspective, Monti should "hold together the rassemblement of the moderates." Everyone. Even the Northern League, "because if the League were not there we would have a division that would not guarantee governance".
Too bad that the Carroccio has been in opposition for over a year and recently has never hinted at any second thoughts. Two days ago the Northern League leader, Roberto Maroni, announced that it would be ready to ally with the PDL to politics only if Berlusconi renounces the candidacy. An ultimatum to which the Knight initially responds with a not too veiled threat: "If the League does not reach an agreement with us on my candidacy for the presidency of the Council or we do not reach an agreement on the candidacy of Maroni as president of Lombardy, they would immediately fall the governments of Veneto and Piedmont led by men of the League".
Then, however, the opening: "It is by no means excluded that Angelino Alfano, who has all my esteem and whom I consider the best protagonist of politics and an important person for the future of the country, is the prime minister - he said Berlusconi again -. It is absolutely possible, even the League would accept his candidacy. Alfano is therefore in pole position".
