Criticism in Italy forces Salvini to cancel an announced trip to Moscow

The Italian far-right Matteo Salvini has just received another harsh public ridicule for his diplomatic ambitions.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
30 May 2022 Monday 16:12
14 Reads
Criticism in Italy forces Salvini to cancel an announced trip to Moscow

The Italian far-right Matteo Salvini has just received another harsh public ridicule for his diplomatic ambitions. The leader of the League had announced that he was about to travel to Moscow to represent "the feelings of the majority of Italians" -and not on behalf of the Government-, but the discomfort that it has generated in the Executive, the criticism of the rest of parties and the silence of his supporters have forced him to cancel the visit.

As explained by Antonio Capuano, Salvini's adviser, in an interview with La Stampa, the intention was to share a plan with the Russian government that consisted of finding a neutral headquarters where the peace negotiations for Ukraine could resume; that Italy, France and Germany were the “guarantors”; the ceasefire and the journey of a "high personality" as a "moral guarantor", without explicitly naming the Pope. Salvini, who has no position in the Government, has left Prime Minister Mario Draghi amazed and annoyed with this occurrence. “Only Draghi speaks with Putin”, warned the Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, who asks for “responsibility” because going to Moscow cannot be the “summer tour”. Not even the ministers or regional presidents of the League have defended him.

"It goes where the heart beats," commented the Social Democrat Enrico Letta, about Salvini's old admiration for Putin. In one of his last trips, to the border between Poland and Ukraine, a Polish mayor has already humiliated the liguista, shattering his past friendship with the Russian leader.