No interference in Italian democracy, says EU official

Brussells, 31 May (IANS/AKI) There should be no meddling in Italy's "ongoing" democratic process, the European Union's Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday.

"The democratic process is ongoing (in Italy) and we will see what happens. It would be inadmissible to speculate and ever more so to interfere. What is clear is that democracy has the last word," he said.

The European Commission is ready to work with any new government that takes office in Italy or any EU state, Moscovici stated.

"Italians must determine their destiny and naturally we will respect Italy as a founder EU member and key eurozone country."

Moscovici made the remarks when asked to comment on an alleged German plan to use tools a the EU's disposal - starting with the European Stability Mechanism - to protect southern European economies such as Spain and Portugal should a future populist government in Rome withdraw Italy from the euro.

Daniel Gross, Director of the Centre for European Policy think-tank, told AKI of the purported German plan in an interview.

The eurosceptic League party and the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement sent jitters through European capitals and markets with their agenda for an anti-austerity government that includes reviewing EU treaties and budget rules.

The Five-Star praised the remarks. "On March 4, Italians voted for change. Everyone must respect this wish.

"Europe is the continent where democracy is strongest. No one - neither an anonymous bureaucrat nor a financial vulture - can sever the bond between citizens and their representatives.

"Moscovici has admitted that we are right. We note this and it gives us cheer," the Five-Star lawmakers said in a statement.

Italy has been without a new government since the inconclusive March 4 national election in which populist parties made strong gains but no party or bloc won an outright parliamentary majority.

In a bid to stave off a re-vote in July, Italy's pro-European president Sergio Mattarella has decided to give Five-Star and the League more time to try and form a coalition.

--IANS/AKI

him/