Did Russia help Mario Draghi resign in Italy?

The Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, already in controversy with Russia, reiterated this Thursday the serious accusation that the fall of the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi is also due to the fact that “the axis has been changed, moving us away from ‘Atlantic alliance and getting closer to Russia ”.

“It is no coincidence that the government was overthrown by two political forces that wink at Vladimir Putin.”

The allegations of serving Russian interests engulfed not two but all three parties that voted “no” to the retention of Draghi’s power in the vote of confidence that took place in the Senate.

Economist Draghi reiterated his resignation after this vote he gave him irrevocable characterleading to a political crisis early elections which would take place in September.

Russian word

The Russians reacted several times. The latest directed against the Italian chancellor was known this Thursday. He specifies: “We have always considered Italy a sovereign and independent country. If it is not considered as such elsewhere, this has nothing to do with Russia”.

This was stated by the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, answering questions on the matter alleged attempts at destabilization from Moscow.

“The action of the Draghi government should be evaluated by the Italians. Italy is an independent sovereign country that shouldn’t depend on anyone “, she added.

Zakharova added: “I don’t understand what the internal need is to explain what happens with external factors.”

“Russia will not support any party in the elections in Italy, as the United States and the countries of the European Union do, which declare themselves in favor of one or the other political force in elections in other states”, concluded the spokesperson for the ministry. of Russian foreign affairs.

Congratulations to Vladimir Putin

Di Maio’s direct allusions point above all to the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini. Years ago Salvini began his open militancy in favor of the Russian president. He toured Moscow and Italy wearing Putin t-shirts.

He even went so far as to say that Putin is “a gift from the Lord” and that he exchanged “two Mattarella for half Putin”. Sergio Mattarella is the president of Italy.

Salvini twinned his Lega party with Putin’s political group. He often traveled to Russia to see the president and other right-wing leaders.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine complicated his enthusiasm for Putin. He said he condemned the Russian armed intervention and announced a peace trip to Russia, which never materialized due to the protests.

He went to Poland but the mayor of a city received him with a shirt with Putin’s face that Salvini was wearing in Moscow, forbidding him to enter. The leader of the League had to return.

The role of Silvio Berlusconi

The other person who on Wednesday moved his Forza Italia party into an alliance with the Salvini League was four-time prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Also Berlusconi is an old friend of Putin, although he criticized him for his decision to invade Ukraine. In his Roman residence, the so-called “Putin bed” became famous, a giant bed that the Russian leader gave to Berlusconi, when a group of girls who participated in the billionaire leader’s bunga-bungas photographed themselves in “Putin’s bed” , making it famous in the eyes of the Italian public opinion.

The third politician cited by Foreign Minister Di Maio is the lawyer Giuseppe Conte, of the 5 Star Movement, who refused to vote for Draghi’s confidence. Conte was also accused of a pro-Russian line. His party opposed the delivery of “offensive” weapons to Ukraine and also criticized the Western decision to supply Ukrainians with modern weapons.

Rome, correspondent

CB