In a major turn of events, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stepped down as the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the right-wing group operating in the European Parliament. “When I was asked to extend my term until the [EU] elections, I agreed,” Meloni recalled while addressing an annual festival organized by her party, Brothers of Italy.
It is pertinent to note that Meloni’s party accounts for the biggest delegation within the ECR with 24 lawmakers part of the group. “Now that the elections have taken place, I think I have fulfilled my duty and I want to announce that I am going to resign as president of the European Conservatives,” Meloni said, emphasising that the rightwing group needs a “president who can deal with it full time,” Politico reported.
After Meloni’s exit, Poland’s former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is vying for the top post since his Law and Justice (PiS) party has 20 MEPs in the ECR. Meloni held the position since 2020 and said that she will back Morawiecki’s bid.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister lauds Meloni
Meloni’s announcement came at her party’s annual youth festival which was held in Rome on Sunday. The event was attended by over 300 guests, including Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati. While delivering a speech at the event, the Lebanese premier highlighted Italy’s role in supporting the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
The UN body is playing an essential role in maintaining the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Lebanon. While speaking on the situation in Lebanon, Mikati stressed that respecting the terms of the truce is essential to achieving long-term stability in the region.
Mikati also mentioned the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime. He stressed the importance of the EU’s role in facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. Meanwhile, Meloni emphasised that “political stability” is “what makes Italy more credible at the national and international level.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/giorgia-meloni-resigns-as-ecr-president-eus-right-wing-group-13844759.html.
