Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for what she perceives as election campaigning during the ongoing G7 summit in Puglia. Macron’s call for a parliamentary election in France, aimed at countering the far-right’s growing influence, has drawn Meloni’s sharp rebuke.
“There is no reason to stir controversy over issues we have long agreed upon,” Meloni remarked on the summit’s first day at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia. “It is profoundly misguided, especially in these challenging times, to exploit a valuable forum like the G7 for electoral purposes,” she added.
Meloni displayed warm camaraderie while welcoming other leaders to the G7 Summit, yet noticeable tension arose during her interaction with Macron. Meanwhile, Italy has reportedly urged the removal of a reference to “safe and legal abortion” from the summit’s final statement, according to diplomats present at the event, as reported by Reuters.
The 2023 G7 communique, released after the previous summit in Japan, had advocated for “access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care”. This demand underscores a broader clash between Meloni and Macron, known for their historically turbulent relationship, against the backdrop of Macron’s recent decision to call snap elections, which could have significant ramifications across Europe.
