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Matteo Salvini and Viktor Orbán to form anti-migration front Matteo Salvini and Viktor Orbán to form anti-migration front
(35 minutes later)
The Italian interior minister, Matteo Salvini, and the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, have said they were “walking down the same path” as they met to discuss forming a common anti-migration front they said would be opposed to the policies of the French president, Emmanuel Macron. The Italian interior minister, Matteo Salvini, and the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, have said they are “walking down the same path” after discussing the formation of a common anti-migration front they said would oppose the policies of the French president.
“We want to change Europe’s commission. We want to protect our borders. We are going to fight pro-migrant policies supported by Macron and [George] Soros,” Salvini said after the two met on Tuesday in Milan. “We want to change Europe’s commission. We want to protect our borders. We are going to fight pro-migrant policies supported by [Emmanuel] Macron and [George] Soros,” Salvini said after the pair met in Milan.
The talks between two of Europe’s most vocal hardline leaders followed a standoff with Brussels after Salvini, head of Italy’s far-right League, prevented 177 asylum seekers from disembarking from the coastguard ship Ubaldo Diciotti for almost a week as he called for guarantees that other EU member states would take most of them. Salvini announced his meeting with Orbán after the EU refused, saying he would discuss “alternative strategies” with the Hungarian prime minister. The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has used scaremongering tactics about migrants and refugees as the cornerstone of his politics in the past few years, but in classic populist style he has also required a shadowy, nefarious overlord to target. In Orbán’s case, that figure has been George Soros, who perfectly fits the bill as both insider and outsider in Hungary.
“European elections are coming. We have to change a lot of things,” Orbán said. “There two sides at the moment in Europe. One is led by Macron, who is supporting migration. The other one is supported by countries who want to protect their borders. Hungary and Italy belong to the latter.” Soros was born György Schwartz to a family of Hungarian Jews in 1930, but his father changed their surname to make it more Hungarian. His family split up and lived under assumed identities to escape the Holocaust, and Soros left Hungary in 1947 to study in London. He later emigrated to the US, making billions as an investor and hedge fund manager. His Open Society foundations have donated billions to promoting civil society and human rights, particularly in the former Communist countries of central and eastern Europe.
It is not the first time that Salvini has attacked the French president, who in turn has shown no sympathy for the Italian interior minister. Macron in June said extremists in “neighbour” countries were betraying European values, pointing his finger at Salvini. Soros is a favoured target of rightwing governments worldwide, including in Israel. Hungarian officials have used criticism of Soros by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to deflect allegations of antisemitism around their own anti-Soros campaign.
Orbán, whom Salvini has described as a political role model, has been among the most hostile to immigration in Europe and appears to be a natural ally for Salvini. His Fidesz party was re-elected in April promising to crack down on aid groups it said supported migrants. However, at times, the rhetoric appears to borrow heavily from antisemitic tropes. In a March speech in which he accused the political opposition of being “Soros candidates”, Orbán referred to his enemies as “not straightforward but crafty; not honest but base; not national but international; does not believe in working but speculates with money”.
The talks between two of Europe’s most vocal hardline leaders followed a standoff with Brussels after Salvini prevented 177 asylum seekers disembarking from the coastguard ship Ubaldo Diciotti for almost a week as he called for guarantees that other EU member states would take most of them. After his request was refused, Salvini, the leader of Italy’s far-right League, announced he would meet Orbán to discuss “alternative strategies”.
“European elections are coming. We have to change a lot of things,” Orbán said on Tuesday. “There are two sides at the moment in Europe. One is led by Macron, who is supporting migration. The other one is supported by countries who want to protect their borders. Hungary and Italy belong to the latter.”
It is not the first time Salvini has attacked the French president, who in turn has shown no sympathy for the Italian interior minister. Macron said in June that extremists in “neighbour” countries were betraying European values.
Orbán, whom Salvini has described as a political role model, has been among the most hostile to immigration in Europe and appears to be a natural ally for Salvini. His Fidesz party was re-elected in April, promising to crack down on aid groups it said supported migrants.
“Hungary has shown that we can stop migrants on land. Salvini has shown migrants can be stopped at sea. We thank him for protecting Europe’s borders,” Orbán said.“Hungary has shown that we can stop migrants on land. Salvini has shown migrants can be stopped at sea. We thank him for protecting Europe’s borders,” Orbán said.
“We must send migrants back to their countries. Brussels says we cannot do it. They also had said it was impossible to stop migrants on land, but we did it.”“We must send migrants back to their countries. Brussels says we cannot do it. They also had said it was impossible to stop migrants on land, but we did it.”
The two leaders, despite sharing the same anti-migration platform, appear to disagree on the relocation of asylum seekers, however. Salvini is pushing for their distribution among EU nations, whereas Orbán stands with Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in saying no. Despite sharing the same anti-migration platform, the two leaders appear to disagree on the relocation of asylum seekers. Salvini is pushing for their distribution among EU nations, whereas Orbán stands with Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in saying no.
Orbán brushed off their differences as he prepared for the meeting. “Me and Salvini, we seem to share the same destiny. He is my hero,” he told reporters outside a restaurant where he had lunch in Milan. Orbán brushed off their differences before the meeting. “Me and Salvini, we seem to share the same destiny. He is my hero,” he told reporters.
He again described Salvini as a “hero” following their talks, saying he “could win the elections in Hungary if he would decide to run”. He again described Salvini as a “hero” after their talks, saying he “could win the elections in Hungary if he would decide to run”.
Thousands of leftwing activists had gathered in Milan to protest against the two men.Thousands of leftwing activists had gathered in Milan to protest against the two men.
The standoff over the Diciotti exposed tensions between Brussels and Rome with the Italian government threatening to suspend its EU budget contributions. Those stuck onboard were allowed to disembark on Saturday, with Ireland, Albania and the Italian church agreeing to take most of them. During the standoff over the Diciotti the Italian government threatened to suspend its EU budget contributions. Those stuck onboard were allowed to disembark on Saturday, with Ireland, Albania and Italy’s Catholic Church agreeing to take most of them.
The European commission said threats were unhelpful and called on all countries to find a solution to help the people onboard.The European commission said threats were unhelpful and called on all countries to find a solution to help the people onboard.
“The consequences of the Diciotti case and the way Italy is dealing with migration in general risks destabilising the equilibrium of a Europe that is still glued to its national interests,” said Massimiliano Panarari, a politics professor at Luiss University in Rome.“The consequences of the Diciotti case and the way Italy is dealing with migration in general risks destabilising the equilibrium of a Europe that is still glued to its national interests,” said Massimiliano Panarari, a politics professor at Luiss University in Rome.
“Italy has become a laboratory of European populism and risks moving away not only from Europe, but also from western democracies and getting closer, together with Orbán’s Hungary, to [Russia’s Vladimir] Putin, who enjoys Salvini’s manifestations of sympathy.”“Italy has become a laboratory of European populism and risks moving away not only from Europe, but also from western democracies and getting closer, together with Orbán’s Hungary, to [Russia’s Vladimir] Putin, who enjoys Salvini’s manifestations of sympathy.”
The meeting followed talks between the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, and his Czech counterpart, Andrej Babiš, who has opposed relocating refugees and migrants. Conte will also visit Moscow in October, Russian news agencies said on Tuesday. The meeting followed talks between the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, and his Czech counterpart, Andrej Babiš, who has opposed relocating refugees and migrants. Conte would visit Moscow in October, Russian news agencies said on Tuesday.
Salvini was placed under investigation last week by Italian prosecutors from Agrigento, Sicily, for the potential abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal detention, relating to his refusal to allow those onboard the Diciotti to disembark. Salvini was placed under investigation last week by Italian prosecutors from Agrigento, Sicily, for potential abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal detention, relating to his refusal to allow those onboard the Diciotti to disembark.
Their release on Saturday will not stop the investigation into Salvini, who governs in coalition with the populist and anti-establishment Five Star Movement, after an election campaign this year in which he vowed to adopt tough polices on immigration. Their release will not stop the investigation into Salvini, who governs in coalition with the populist and anti-establishment Five Star Movement, after an election campaign this year in which he vowed to adopt tough polices on immigration.
Salvini has repeatedly said Italy would “no longer be Europe’s refugee camp”, and as first evidence of the new government’s hardline approach closed all Italian seaports to rescue boats operated by NGOs in the Mediterranean. Salvini has repeatedly said Italy will “no longer be Europe’s refugee camp”, and as first evidence of the new government’s hardline approach closed all Italian seaports to rescue boats operated by non-government organisations in the Mediterranean.
MigrationMigration
Matteo SalviniMatteo Salvini
Viktor OrbánViktor Orbán
ItalyItaly
HungaryHungary
The far rightThe far right
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