The “head” of Europe’s conservative parties today faced an “internal rebellion”, as Politico comments, due to comments by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Politicians in nine countries have condemned Berlusconi’s stance and some have said they will boycott the upcoming Conservative meeting in Naples if Berlusconi attends, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Politico.

Berlusconi’s comment

Berlusconi, 86, is a fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his Forza Italia party is part of the wider European People’s Party (EPP) political group. He drew backlash over the weekend when he told Italian media that Zelenskiy could have avoided a Russian invasion if he hadn’t attacked the “two autonomous republics of Donbass” in Ukraine. Referring to Zelensky, Berlusconi added that he regards “the behavior of this gentleman very, very negatively.”

These comments have angered other members of the EPP (whose official line is firm support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression), provoking a crisis in the EU’s largest political group, which includes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission President. Parliament, Robert Metzola.

During a meeting of EPP national delegations in Strasbourg, representatives from Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Sweden, Luxembourg and Belgium stood up and criticized Berlusconi’s comments, calling on EPP leader Manfred Weber to publicly denounce them. people spoke with knowledge of what was being said.

“Putin not only uses Eastern front. He is using every means to engage all possible factors on the Western front,” said Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknavikkene. “Many delegations will not go to Naples if Berlusconi is there.”

Another MEP compared Berlusconi to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, while Andrzej Halicki, head of the Polish delegation, said it was “unacceptable” for Berlusconi to remain head of Forza Italia.

“Rebellion creates headache for Weber” who is trying to reach out to the Meloni government to expand the base of the EPP ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections, Politico comments. Anger at Berlusconi is causing a backlash against Forza Italia, which is the EPP’s “bridge” to the Meloni government.

Weber: We have no problem with Forza Italia

Although a representative for Weber did not comment, according to people with direct knowledge of the events, Weber responded by saying: “We have a problem with Berlusconi, but not with Forza Italia. In tomorrow’s plenary debate, I will be absolutely clear about our position on Ukraine. We must also take into account that Meloni’s statements were closer to our positions than Berlusconi’s.”

Meloni’s office stressed that Rome supports Ukraine.

Weber did not say whether the planned meeting would take place in Naples or whether Berlusconi would attend.

Source Politico