Who does not remember the appearance of Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio in early September? Both promised to stay in Europe, as if calling for an impossible referendum on the euro or being allies in the European Parliament of the racist and populist far-right were just harmless distractions. The leader of the Five Stars even went so far as to indicate the model of the grillini in the Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy. Naturally, only the most naive (or hypocritical) among the representatives of the establishment showed that they believed the nonsense of the Northern League and the Five Stars.
But the elections are approaching and the sirens of opportunism (or transformation) return to enchant the opposition in career. Having given up the language of populism and donned a double-breasted suit, Di Maio returned yesterday in a long interview with La Stampa to cover the exposed nerve of the grillini on Europe with velvet, going so far as to argue that "there is a social war in course and that only Europe can save us”.
Conversion on the road to Damascus or pure electoral shamelessness? Everyone can judge as he wishes and it is welcome if, in order to attempt a rise to power, the grillini renounce themselves and rediscover Europe. But to consider the words of the leader of the Five Stars reliable, a counter-evidence would be needed. And the test arrives punctually towards the end of the interview when the journalists of La Stampa wisely ask Di Maio how he thinks he is credible if he always keeps the gun of the referendum on the euro on the table. The leader of the Five Stars responds seraphic: “The referendum on the euro? We consider it an extrema ratio”. Long live sincerity. A waltz around Europe can always be done, but Europeanism is something else.
