Deputy Premier and leader of the
right-wing League said Monday he hoped the European Union would
reconsider its proposal of former Italian foreign minister Luigi
Di Maio as its Special Representative for the Gulf on grounds
there are people with "better resumes".
"With all the career diplomats who have done so much in Italy
and Europe, sending Mr. Di Maio Luigi to mediate is curious,"
said Salvini.
"It is not the only curious initiative by European institutions,
which are more ideological than pragmatic. I am thinking of the
directives (on) green houses, green cars, synthetic meat, fake
cheeses, fake wines," he continued.
"I trust that they will reconsider because in Italy and in
Europe there are mediators who have resumes that are absolutely
superior to the albeit respectable former foreign minister. This
is not a personal matter," concluded Salvini.
On Sunday it emerged that EU High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, had proposed Di Maio
for the position of European Union Special Representative for
the Gulf in a letter to the 27 member states.
"Following very careful deliberation, I consider that the
best-suited candidate is Mr Luigi Di Maio," wrote Borrell.
"As former foreign minister of Italy, Mr Luigi Di Maio has the
necessary political profile at the international level for this
role," he added.
The proposal, which must now be ratified by EU member states,
med with mixed reactions in Italy, with some describing it as
"good news" for Italy and others saying it was an "insult" to
Italians.
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