Thanks to the efforts of the Democratic Party, Italy is moving out of political crisis and will once again play a constructive role in Europe.
PES president Sergei Stanishev said:
“Nicola Zingaretti and the Democratic Party have put Italy first, and by their actions they have steered the country away from political turmoil and towards a positive future – they have managed to bridge political differences for the benefit of Italy.
“Thanks to this sacrifice and hard work, Italy now has a functioning government and the country will once again take its place as a leading nation in Europe. For that the PES strongly congratulates them.”
He added:
“I am particularly happy that the first act of the new government has been to nominate former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni as Italy’s new European Commissioner. He is a well-respected figure across the entire progressive family in Europe and beyond. He is a strong choice for Italy and the EU.”
The agreement between Five Star and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) thwarted desperate plans by Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right Lega party and outgoing deputy prime minister, to force an early general election.
The new government has agreed on a draft programme which will support the poorest Italians and invest in education, welfare and sustainability. The new government has also said it will work for a strong European response to the migration challenges which exist in the Mediterranean.
