Italian election results: Matteo Salvini is Italy's potential new PM and he LOVES Brexit
EUROSCEPTIC League leader Matteo Salvini’s chances to become Italy’s next Prime Minister continue to rise as the Italian election results are revealed. Find out what he told Express.co.uk about Brexit.
Italian election: Lega leader Matteo Salvini casts vote
Matteo Salvini could be Italy’s next Prime Minister as the Italian election results continue to be revealed on Monday morning.
The eurosceptic Italian politician has vowed to fight Brussels and to majorly reform Europe’s core treaties in an attempt to take back control from the bloc.
Mr Salvini has often vouched for the British decision to leave the European Union, claiming Italy could be the next country to leave the bloc under his command.
In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Mr Salvini warned Brexit is the perfect example to follow if Brussels refuses to listen to his demands.
He said: “On principle, I always support the opinion of a population who express themselves through a referendum.
“The British case is even more emblematic because it represents the first and only time so far where European citizens have had the opportunity to have a say about their membership of the European Union. And they rejected it. I’m not surprised.
“Why on earth would free people remain prisoners in a cage of absurd laws and regulation, with rigid constraints that humiliate the true needs of the people and their country?
“With the Italian vote, the EU will have its last chance to reform itself. Otherwise, Brexit will be nothing else than the start of an inevitable crumbling process, with all the consequences and dangers this comes with.”
Dubbed “the Italian Farage” for his anti-Europeanism, he has vowed to make “extreme” reforms to European laws if elected, has threatened the EU with the possibility of an "Italexit" and pledged in his party’s manifesto to “defend Italian borders from the invasion” of illegal immigrants.
Matteo Salvini speaks on damaging effect of EU
Brexit will be nothing else than the start of an inevitable crumbling process
In a recent interview with La7 Coffee Break, Mr Salvini said: “I will seek to change some of the European treaties and regulations which penalise Italian people.
“We need to put Italian interests before those of the European Union, or at least at the same level.
“The laws imposed by Brussels damage Italian artisans, traders, pensioners, but hey, Europe is asking so we have to obey.
“Come on, if Europe asks me to throw myself in a well I’m not going to do that just because Europe is asking me to, am I?
“We give the EU €20million per year, that gives us the right to negotiate our position and reform their rules.
Asked about the current stage of the Brexit negotiations, Mr Salvini said: “It’s normal that in a negotiation so delicate there are elements of tension and friction, but what is unacceptable is the media campaign of criminalisation of the British vote, nor are the blackmail tactics employed by the pro-Europeans on the other side of the table.
“Besides, I’d like to remind Mr Juncker that he was only the Prime Minister of the micro-nation that is Luxembourg at the peak of his political career.
“On the other side of the table, Theresa May represents millions and millions of British voters.”
Matteo Salvini’s League is currently the leading party in the centre-right coalition with Silvio Berlusconi’s party Forza Italia and centre-right party Fratelli d’Italia.
The party received incredible support since the low percentages reached in the 2013 election when the party only managed to gain 4 per cent of the parliamentary seats.
With the new Italian electoral law, if no party or coalition reaches a majority, it will be up to Italian President Sergio Mattarella to decide which party or coalition will be given the chance to form a government post-election.
So far, the largest party in the run is populist party Five Star Movement led by Luigi Di Maio with 31.75 per cent of the votes.
However, the centre-right coalition is ahead of the polls with 37 per cent of the votes. Parties and coalitions need a 40 per cent majority to win the election.
Speaking at his party's latest press conference, Matteo Salvini renewed his stern warning to Brussels.
He said: “With the Italian vote, European people have taken a step forward towards freedom from Brussels’ cages and constrains that have brought hunger, precariousness and insecurity to Europe.“The Italian vote will give us the chance to rebuild a Europe founded on men and women and not on constraints, beurocracies and choices made speculators on the back of other people.
“They won’t fool us anymore. In Italy, Italians will decide from now on. Not Berlin, not Paris, not Brussels."
