European elections, Verhofstadt tries to unite Italian liberals

Leader of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) wants to put personalities from Radicals, Future Italy, Civic Choice and some from Democratic Party (PD) together
They need to “organize” against popuslim and “construct something completely new”

We need to “fight back” against the populist and anti-European forces, and now is the time to do that, even for Italy, to “organize” and create a true liberal group in the upcoming European elections. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of ALDE, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, will be in Italy tomorrow to discuss this with potential allies. In an interview with La Stampa Verhofstadt explained that the attempt is to “bring twelve political parties together into one great political alliance.” And regarding who the possible candidates will be he says: “All those who have a little pro-European inspiration” or in other words “liberals, radicals, Republicans, parts of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Centre, Future Italy, Stop the Decline, parts of Civic Choice.” The goal is to “build something completely new.”

 Verhofstadt, whose name is on the list of possible party’s candidates for the presidency of the European Commission, has an objective to try to end the Italian anomaly, and recognizes that in Italy there are many who call themselves “liberals,” but then the only ones who sit in ALDE’s group in Strasbourg are MEPs from Italy of Values, not exactly a liberal group in the strict sense. Key stakeholders (and supporters) are from the now former party of Mario Monti, Civic Choice, but they seem more willing to approach European populars and Montezemolo’s Future Italy. And of course, also the Radicals with whom they will already meet today since together with Marco Cappato and Emma Bonino (who for institutional commitments had to cancel her participation) will star in a debate in Brussels on freedom of research.

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