The indication by the EU High
Representative Josep Borrell of former foreign minister and ex
Five Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio as EU Special
Representative for the Gulf met mixed reactions from politicians
on Sunday, with some hailing the choice as good news and others
describing it as "an insult" to Italy.
"If Europe chooses an Italian as its special envoy, it is
certainly good news for the country as a whole, unless we want
to once again export our petty quarrels to the EU level," said
Senator and former Lower House Speaker Pier Ferdinando Casini.
"Good luck to Luigi Di Maio with his work," said Ettore Rosato
of the centrist formation Action-IV.
"Having an Italian there is always good news for our country,"
he added.
Former foreign minister and Lower House Speaker Gianfranco Fini
said he was "delighted".
"I hope he is up to such a difficult task, it will be
interesting to see how he will perform the mandate," said Fini
during current affairs talk show 'Mezz'ora in più' on Rai 3.
However centre-right Forza Italia Senator Maurizio Gasparri
described the choice as "absurd and shameful".
"It disqualifies the proponents and the European Union itself,"
he added.
"Di Maio is totally inadequate. The mere fact of considering him
casts ridicule on those who do so. Enough of these incapable
armchair grabbers," Gasparri said.
In a statement right-wing League Senators said the decision to
indicate Di Maio was "politically outrageous" and an "affront to
the will of Italians who last September 25 expressed themselves
clearly by choosing the center-right" in general elections.
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