A storm erupted Thursday after
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was quoted by
the Guardian as saying Italians were lazy and corrupt.
Juncker was quoted by the British daily as saying that
Italians should "work harder and be less corrupt" - a quote an
EC spokesman said was "taken out of context".
Nonetheless, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani
urged Juncker to immediately deny the words attributed to him.
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, one of Italy's two
new government partners, urged Juncker to deny the quote.
The ehad of the other government partner, League leader and
interior minister in waiting Matteo Salvini condemned the
alleged quote.
"Italians corrupt and lazy?," Salvini said on Facebook.
"Shameful and racist words, with the next government we will
see we get the rights and dignity of 60 million Italians
respected, who expect collaboration and not insults from
Europe".
A European Commission spokeswoman told ANSA Juncker did not
"to her knowledge" tell the Guardian that Italians should work
harder and be less corrupt.
She said "the words attributed to Juncker were taken out of
context".
She said "in a question-and-answer session Juncker referred
to the structural problems of the regions of southern Italy,
where the EU has done a lot to mobilise funds to create growth
and jobs.
"The take-up of EU funds can be improved so that people can
see the results in the field more quickly".
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