European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends the 77th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters
Reuters: EU's von der Leyen delivers veiled warning to Italy's right wing
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned Italy of consequences should it veer away from democratic principles, issuing a barely veiled threat ahead of Sunday's election that a rightist bloc led by Giorgia Meloni is expected to win.
The comments highlighted concern in some European capitals over the forthcoming election and suggested that relations between Brussels and Rome could get turbulent if Meloni and her partners secure victory.
"My approach is that whatever democratic government is willing to work with us, we're working together," von der Leyen said at Princeton University in the United States on Thursday, responding to a question on whether there were any concerns with regard to the upcoming elections in Italy.
"If things go in a difficult direction, I've spoken about Hungary and Poland, we have tools," she added.
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Update #1: Italian election: EU can work with any democracy but has 'tools' if it gets 'difficult', VDL says (Euronews)
Update #2: Von der Leyen warns that there are «instruments» in the face of governments that move away from the «right direction». (News 360)
WNU Editor: Italy's conservative coalition are furious with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attempt to influence Sunday's election .... ‘Squalid threats’: Italy’s Salvini hits out at EU chief over election comment (The Local). More here .... Salvini calls on Von Der Leyen to resign or apologize for his «threats» to Italy (News 360).