Italy's election earthquake shakes Brussels

Italy's election earthquake shakes Brussels
By Euronews
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

"They do not wish the EU to continue in this way of a federal Europe or united states of Europe," says one Conservative MEP.

ADVERTISEMENT

Italy's election earthquake is being felt in Brussels. The support for Eurosceptic and anti-immigrant parties coming as a big shock from a country that's traditionally showed a lot of love for the EU.

But economic and migration worries have taken their toll on voters.

"Mrs. Merkel has a lot of responsibility for what's happened, because she took a unilateral decision  (referring to migration), without any real discussion with her EU partners," said one Italian man in Brussels. 

Another added: "I don't think that the Italians are Eurosceptics, I think Italians have been waiting for answers from politicians. The answers haven't come for many years. So people vote to make politicians react."

But in Brussels, there's a feeling that voters have become confused about the issues at the heart of Italy's vote.

"This is a European trend, like with Brexit. Unfortunately people talk about migration by connecting it to social distress, that is actually a result of the economic crisis," said Cecile Kyenge, an Italian centre-left MEP. 

For forces in the EU parliament, driving a Eurosceptic agenda, the outcome of Italy's poll is a step forward.

"They do not wish the EU to continue in this way of a federal Europe or united states of Europe or deeper integration, and hope that this message will be heard by Mr. Juncker, Chancellor Merkel and President Macron," said Jan Zahradil, a Czech Conservative MEP.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

And the LUX Audience Award goes to... 'The Teachers' Lounge'

European Union looking to expand sanctions on Iran following attack on Israel

MEPs query fast-tracking farmer-friendly CAP reform