Schlein Criticizes Meloni Over Remarks on European Union’s Founding Document
Rome: Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein expressed strong disapproval of Premier Giorgia Meloni’s recent comments during an address to the Lower House, accusing her of questioning the significance of the 1941 Manifesto of Ventotene. This manifesto, drafted by two pivotal figures in the creation of the European Union while detained by the Fascist regime, is considered foundational to the EU’s principles. Schlein alleged that Meloni’s remarks were an attempt to deflect attention from internal government disagreements by disparaging the memory of Europe.
According to Ansa News Agency, Schlein stated, “Giorgia Meloni not only does not have the courage of defending the values on which the (European) Union is based from the attacks” made by US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, “but she has decided to hide in the House her government’s divisions by insulting the European memory.” Schlein further emphasized that there should be no tolerance for attempts to alter historical narratives, pointing out that the Manifesto of Ventotene is universally acknowledged as the EU’s foundational document.
Schlein continued her critique by questioning Meloni’s commitment to Italy’s constitutional values, given that the same anti-Fascists who wrote the Manifesto also contributed to Italy’s post-war Constitution. The controversy arose when Meloni remarked during a Lower House debate that the Manifesto did not align with her vision for Europe, prompting a protest from opposition members and a temporary adjournment by Speaker Lorenzo Fontana.
Meloni’s controversial statement, “I don’t know if this is your Europe, but it’s certainly not mine,” referred to the manifesto that played a vital role in shaping the European Federalist Movement. Drafted on the island of Ventotene, which served as a Fascist prison during World War II, Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi’s manifesto advocated for a federation of European states to avert future conflicts.