Europe wants Monti bis. Nobody says it clearly, but the political message is crystal clear: the Professor is a candidate, Silvio Berlusconi steps aside. The leaders of the continent, gathered yesterday in Brussels for the European summit, produced a global and bipartisan chorus.
The most explicit was Francois Hollande: “Berlusconi? With him what is true one day is no longer true the next – said the French President – There are no concrete prospects for him”. The comment of the president of the Eurogroup is not very different, Jean-Claude Juncker: “What did Berlusconi come here to do? Ask him."
Less direct, but just as clear, the German chancellor Angela Merkel: "I cannot go into Italian politics and say who should run", but "everyone confirmed that this government, which had great support from all the parties that were in parliament, did a lot and played an important role for the trust and credibility of Italy, above all on the financial markets”.
But on the German front there are also those who calmly admit pressing on the Professor: “We clearly told Monti that we would like to see his candidacy and we had a good feeling…”, said Elmar Brok, MEP of the CDU.
The president of European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, reiterated the message launched in recent days by Joseph Daul, head of the EPP group in Strasbourg: "We are against any populist and anti-European policy". Also in this case, a farewell message to Berlusconi and a clear invitation to Monti, who however has once again clarified whether he intends to run as a candidate or not. Europe acclaims him, but the Professor stalls.
