Nightmare for EU brewing as anti-euro party begins plan to gain power in Italy
AN ITALIAN party that wants to leave the euro is in pre-election talks with Silvio Berlusconi about forming a coalition, which could cause a nightmare for European Union chiefs.
By MARK CHANDLER
Express.co.uk
Thu, Jan 4, 2018
Matteo Salvini from the Lega Nord party has held a series of talks with the country’s four-time prime minister already this year in a bid to cement a centre-right partnership.
Polls show if the two did combine their parties could get round 40 per cent of the vote, sweeping to power in the March elections.
The pair have so far discussed key policies including reducing taxes, creating jobs and fighting illegal immigration.
But it is Lega Nord’s stance on the euro that is causing panic in Brussels.
Mr Salvini has claimed the currency is a failed experiment that is heading towards “catastrophe”.
Speaking late last year, Mr Salvini warned: “I believe that one single currency for 18 economies, each different in its own way, that just won’t work in the long term.
“But statistics here is more important than anything else.
“Look, since the introduction of the common currency Italy’s debt has risen by €900billion.
“Six Nobel Prize winners are unanimous in saying that this experiment has failed and we should not go any further down this road.
“Yes, we understand that there is no way to hold a referendum on the euro.
“But we are determined to become part of the government and that is why we invited economists to figure out what we should do when the euro collapses, since we should not rule out this possibility, what to do to prevent a catastrophe.”
And he warned the bloc needed to change or it would “cease to exist”, arguing Brussels should work on fewer issues instead of constantly meddling in member state’s affairs.
The party is also committed to honouring last October’s referendum to grant greater autonomy for the wealthy Lombardy and Veneto regions, another source of potential conflict with the EU.
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