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Berlusconi joins Salvini on campaign trail as Italian right seeks gains | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Silvio Berlusconi has returned to the campaign trail alongside Matteo Salvini as his rightwing coalition is revived ahead of elections in the central Italian region of Abruzzo on Sunday. | |
The former prime minister’s appearance at a press conference on Thursday was his first major campaign outing since March last year when the same alliance, made up of his Forza Italia and the two far-right parties, Salvini’s League and Brothers of Italy, took 38% of the vote in general elections. | |
The 82-year-old met Salvini, interior minister in the Italian government, and Georgia Meloni, who heads Brothers of Italy, in the regional capital of Pescara on Thursday to give a show of unity in a region that would be a strategic win for the group. | |
The alliance has put forward Marco Marsilio, a politician with Brothers of Italy, to compete in the regional vote, which is likely to lead to the ousting of the centre-left Democratic party. Recent polls put the centre-right in the lead, with about 39%, followed by the anti-establishment populists of the Five Star Movement (M5S) at 32.2% and a centre-left coalition at 28.2%. | |
Should Marsilio win, Berlusconi – who said he has always “been in love with Abruzzo” – has pledged to return to Pescara once a month for the first six months to assist him with a programme that includes investment in infrastructure and hospitals, and creating jobs to stop young people from leaving. | Should Marsilio win, Berlusconi – who said he has always “been in love with Abruzzo” – has pledged to return to Pescara once a month for the first six months to assist him with a programme that includes investment in infrastructure and hospitals, and creating jobs to stop young people from leaving. |
Berlusconi’s campaigning has included a return visit to L’Aquila, almost 10 years after over 300 people were killed and thousands left homeless by an earthquake. Berlusconi was prime minister at the time and kept a promise to build new homes for the displaced. “It was very emotional to go back there and to meet the people living in those homes,” he said. | Berlusconi’s campaigning has included a return visit to L’Aquila, almost 10 years after over 300 people were killed and thousands left homeless by an earthquake. Berlusconi was prime minister at the time and kept a promise to build new homes for the displaced. “It was very emotional to go back there and to meet the people living in those homes,” he said. |
If the coalition wins in Abruzzo, it would be a blow for M5S, which is governing nationally alongside the League. M5S won almost 40% of the vote in Abruzzo at the general election. | If the coalition wins in Abruzzo, it would be a blow for M5S, which is governing nationally alongside the League. M5S won almost 40% of the vote in Abruzzo at the general election. |
There had been speculation that Salvini, whose popularity has surged since becoming deputy prime minister and interior minister last June, might be tempted to ditch Forza Italia. | There had been speculation that Salvini, whose popularity has surged since becoming deputy prime minister and interior minister last June, might be tempted to ditch Forza Italia. |
But Berlusconi, who has led Italy three times, said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Wednesday that the League “has no vocation for suicide”. | But Berlusconi, who has led Italy three times, said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Wednesday that the League “has no vocation for suicide”. |
“Relations with Salvini are always good, inspired by a mutual loyalty even when we disagree,” he added. | “Relations with Salvini are always good, inspired by a mutual loyalty even when we disagree,” he added. |
Berlusconi, who has made comebacks from a tax-fraud conviction, sex scandals and health woes, also announced in January that he would run as a candidate in the European elections. Forza Italia belongs to the European People’s party (EPP). | Berlusconi, who has made comebacks from a tax-fraud conviction, sex scandals and health woes, also announced in January that he would run as a candidate in the European elections. Forza Italia belongs to the European People’s party (EPP). |
He said on Thursday that Europe must return to being a continent “that counts” and not one of “divided states”. | He said on Thursday that Europe must return to being a continent “that counts” and not one of “divided states”. |
Silvio Berlusconi | Silvio Berlusconi |
Italy | Italy |
Europe | Europe |
Matteo Salvini | Matteo Salvini |
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