Ursula von der Leyen said she’s willing to work with MEPs from Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy party after the EU election in June.
The president of the European Commission made the comments during a Eurovision debate of presidential candidates on Thursday.
She said that the Italian prime minister fulfils three of her criteria for future partners: she’s pro-EU, against Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and for the rule of law.
Reports in the Italian media describe Ursula von der Leyen’s statement as a bold move, but one that could risk isolating her further from the centre-right EPP party.
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