“I say no to the European army wanted by Macron and those like him.” Matteo Salvini, speaking from the stage at the Patrioti rally held today, Saturday April 18, in Milan, criticized the European rearmament stance. “This is a gathering that wants peace, not weapons and war. Let’s return to investing in dialogue and democracy, not in arms and sanctions. Our children do not need a European army, called for by a rather thin-skinned person.”

“This square,” Salvini insisted, “asks for peace, not the peace flags of social centers that today also sought confrontation with the police. That is the peace of criminals.” He then sent “greetings to a friend and a patriot named Viktor Orban. Dear Viktor, you defended the borders and fought against human and arms traffickers; let us continue this battle for freedom and legality together.”

“Yes to gas from Russia”

He also attacked what he called the “malefic pairing” of the IMF and the European Commission. “The International Monetary Fund is run by Martians,” he said, calling for the suspension of the Stability Pact.

The European Commission, he said, “claims that to deal with rising electricity and gas costs we should work less and illuminate our cities less. Who is the poorly illuminated mind who would answer by turning off the switch at home? One of the things to do immediately, the Lega and the government ask, is to suspend the out-of-touch rules of the Stability Pact that are blocking our economy. If we do not receive a positive response within a few days, we are ready to act alone.”

He recalled that the United States “has suspended sanctions on Russian oil until May 16; it was not a small former Soviet state but the world’s largest democracy that did so, and if they do it in Washington, they should also do it in Brussels. Rather than close schools and hospitals, let us resume sourcing energy from around the world, including Russia.”

“Even the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, said it: we need to change who governs this Europe,” Salvini urged. The deputy prime minister then attacked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “Her bright idea is a new lockdown. No, we’ve had enough; we have no intention of closing schools and factories. We want to live, study and work.”

“New reforms on justice”

Returning to the defeat in the justice referendum, the Lega leader said that “after the No victory we are even more united, strong and determined to work together without fear to accelerate the measures that are needed. For example, a necessary justice reform beginning with civil liability for magistrates who, like other workers, must face consequences if they make mistakes.”

“Ready to reconquer Milan”

He then issued an “eviction notice” to Sala. “As a Milanese, it will not be enough for me to win the national elections. Milanese friends, today you are many; let us prepare, after 15 years of left-wing administration, to win the municipal elections again and return to govern Palazzo Marino. Enough is enough.”