EU majority is already split over Fitto’s executive vice-presidency: Socialists, Liberals and Greens reject it

Brussels – The post of executive vice-president of the European Commission that Ursula von der Leyen is allegedly reserving for Raffaele Fitto is creating quite a bit of unrest in the pro-European coalition that supported the re-election of the Popular’s German woman at the head of the EU executive. First, the liberals blurted out, now the Greens and especially the Socialists: with a member of a far-right party at the top of the Commission, the majority risks being blown up.

What is causing discussion is not so much the possible portfolio envisaged for Fitto, who in the new college could be in charge of the economy and NRRP funds, but his appointment to the inner circle of vice presidents, along with Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for climate, digital and social transition; French liberal Thierry Breton, in charge of industry and strategic autonomy; and popular Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis executive vice-president for enlargement and Ukraine reconstruction.

But Fitto is a Meloni loyalist, a member of a party that did not support von der Leyen‘s re-election and of a group—the European Conservatives and Reformists—regarded by most as far-right on a par with Viktor Orbán’s Patriots for Europe. Socialists, liberals and greens were lying in wait for von der Leyen to arrive, aware of the winks between the EU leader and Meloni before the European elections. So much so that, in the pact with the populars that secured von der Leyen the votes she needed to remain in the Berlaymont Palace, the three progressive groups reiterated the red line against ECR.

After the concerns about an “unacceptable” appointment expressed by Renew’s liberals directly to von der Leyen, Terry Reintke, head of the Greens’ group, also said that “proposing a politician from the Conservative group as part of the Commission’s leadership would intentionally undermine the July democratic and pro-European coalition.” AVS MEP Benedetta Scuderi confirmed the position and said the Italian Greens delegation to the EU Parliament would oppose von der Leyen’s “surprising and discouraging” decision on Fitto.

This afternoon (Sept. 10), the Socialist family also took a position. In a note, the S&D group in the EU Parliament warned that—this being the case—”it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to support the commissioners presented by Ursula von der Leyen.” For group leader Iratxe Garcia Perez, the critical issues go beyond Fitto. There is also the issue of the college’s gender parity, which is unlikely to be achieved, and the Employment and Social Affairs delegation, which von der Leyen could hand over to popular Austrian Magnus Brunner, “whose commitment to social rights is questionable at best.” Adding to this the idea of “proactively bringing ECR into the heart of the Commission,” for the S&D, we are facing a “recipe for losing the support of progressives.”

Defending Fitto were his government allies, the Lega and Forza Italia: Paolo Borchia, head of the Lega delegation in Brussels, said he was optimistic that the minister would receive the post of vice-president, while Letizia Moratti, an Italian MEP, stressed her “great experience at the European level and on the dossiers that will be discussed in Europe.” Because of this, and the fact that Italy is “one of the founding countries and the second-largest European manufacturer, we expect that the name indicated will be considered for the right delegations and executive vice-presidency.”

Surprisingly, the Italian commissioner candidate cashes in on the support of the Democratic Party, an outspoken voice in the European socialist family and its largest cohort in Brussels. Nicola Zingaretti, head of the Dem delegation to the EU Parliament, downplayed the PES opposition, speaking of “a dialectic in which the European left is right to ask for guarantees” and “consistency with the political program voted 90 days ago in Parliament, with very clear pillars and a pro-European framework.” But he added: “A role of weight for Italy is welcome; let us defend this prerogative. We will judge Commissioner Fitto without any prejudice.”

Given the intricate picture, the postponement by one week of the meeting—scheduled for tomorrow, Sept. 11—where the EU leader is to present the structure and portfolios of the next College of Commissioners to the group leaders of the EU Parliament, plays in von der Leyen’s favour. Slovenia has succumbed to von der Leyen’s pressure to withdraw the initial nomination of Tomaž Vesel in favour of Marta Kos, but the Parliament in Ljubljana will not rule on the nomination until Friday 13. Now von der Leyen has until Sept. 17 to withdraw her reservations: hold firm on the pact with Socialists, Liberals, and Greens or hand over a vice presidency for the first time to a far-right party.