• Wion
  • /World
  • /Giorgia Meloni slams EU centrists for excluding her from top job talks; rejects 'pre-packaged' deal

Giorgia Meloni slams EU centrists for excluding her from top job talks; rejects 'pre-packaged' deal

Giorgia Meloni slams EU centrists for excluding her from top job talks; rejects 'pre-packaged' deal

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was reportedly left out of a small group of European Union leaders discussing top jobs for the three EU bodies, namely the European Union parliament, European Council and the European Commission.

According to a report in the Financial Times, during a private dinner late on Monday (June 17) evening, the European Union's 27 leaders discussed a potential deal to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission president, along with three other key appointments reflecting the result of European parliamentary elections.

The discussions were soured after it emerged that a previous closed-door meeting between six national leaders from the EU's three largest political parties: von der Leyen's European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats and liberal Renew, was held.These pre-dinner discussions excluded Italy PM Giorgia Meloni'sEuropean Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which finished fourth in the European Union elections earlier this month.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Meloni then reportedly raged at French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the prime ministers of the Netherlands, Greece and Spain for making her and others wait while they made a deal to be presented to the rest of the EU members.

Meloni then told reporters that "we will not accept a pre-packaged agreement".

Also watch |Melodi | Indian PM Modi's selfie with Italian PM Meloni goes viral

The 'Renew' grouping, led by Macron's party, has claimed the post of EU top diplomat for Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The Renew secured third place with 80 seats in the EU parliament.

It could be contested if France's Marine Le Pen's Identity and Democracy (ID) group allies with Meloni's ECR as well as 11 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the party of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This could make them the third-largest force in the European parliament.

Ahead of the EU elections, Ursula von der Leyen had courted Giorgia Meloni as well as her ECR group as potential allies to secure a parliamentary majority required to confirm the candidate appointed by the leaders.

(With inputs from agencies)