Different From Abstain's PM Meloni, The Italian Forza Party Will Support Von Der Leyen

JAKARTA - Italian Foreign Minister who is also a high-ranking Forza Italia said on Friday his party, part of the far-right ruling coalition, would vote in favor of Ursula von der Leyen getting a second term.

The move is in line with the centre-right European People's Party (EPP)'s stance, but is in stark contrast to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's decision to abstain from support for the second mandate of von der Leyen, at a summit of EU leaders on Thursday.

"Forza Italia will elect (Roberta) Metsola as President of Parliament and von der Leyen for the EU Commission. In line with EPP," Tajani said in a post on X.

As previously reported, incumbent Ursula von der Leyen won nominations for the second term of office of the President of the European Commission, after the majority of EU leaders agreed to nominate themselves.

Apart from von der Leyen, Thursday's summit also agreed that Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas would become Head of Foreign Policy, while former Protugas Prime Minister Antonio Costa would serve as President of the European Council.

On Wednesday, three major central groups of the European Parliament, EEP, Social and centrally friendly Renew groups agreed on the formation of von der Leyen, Kalas and Costa.

PM Meloni chose abstain for von der Leyen, and opposed for Kallas and Costa. His conservative Party, Brothers of Italy, won the most votes in Italy and is at the forefront of the European Conservative and Reformist Party (ECR) in the European Parliament.

PM Meloni said the ECR group, which has beaten liberals in the EU assembly, deserved key votes in the appointment. He criticized plans to divide the top position in EU institutions, saying it ignored the surge in popularity of far-right parties in the election of the latest European Parliament.

"In my opinion, so far there has been no willingness to consider what citizens have said in ballot boxes," PM Meloni told lawmakers.

It is known that three parties supporting the Meloni PM coalition have different stances in the European Parliament. Brothers of Italy are in the European Conservative and Reformist (ECR) party, League is in the Identity and Democracy (ID) group while Forza Italia is at the EPP.