Greens/Weratschnig on Salvini threats: “A lot of ruckus and nothing behind it”

2023-09-14 16:08:40

Italy’s transport minister distributes domestic political calming pills with attacks on Austria

Vienna (OTS) – “Matteo Salvini’s appearance in front of the foreign press in Rome yesterday was a lesson in the incompetence of the right-wing populists to find viable common solutions,” sums up Hermann Weratschnig, transport spokesman for the Greens.

“Salvini spins his way from declaration of war to declaration of war on the subject of Brenner with half-truths and untruths in order to make the Italians believe that they are capable of taking action. His attacks on the Tyrolean measures are far-fetched and completely pointless,” criticized Weratschnig sharply.

Yesterday the EU Parliament decided to tighten pollutant limits with a large majority. “This is also an indirect confirmation of the measures that are being taken throughout Austria to improve our air quality and thus our livelihood,” says Weratschnig.

“Neither Tyrol nor the Republic of Austria need to be afraid of this right-wing populist. The measures at the Brenner are there to protect residents and the air quality in the Wipp and Inn valleys and are of course supported at the federal level. This support is also recorded in the coalition paper between the Greens and ÖVP,” emphasizes Weratschnig

“When a minister of such a large economy claims that Austria wants to close the Brenner, you can only shake your head. Tyrol’s self-defense measures against excessive transit traffic along the Brenner route have also been legally confirmed by the EU for years. With his allegations yesterday in Rome, which were simply false in terms of content, Matteo Salvini and the Lega have once again betrayed themselves: no ability to dialogue, no ability to find solutions – a lot of ruckus and nothing behind it,” explains the Green Party’s transport spokesman.

“Salvini should instead seek dialogue to get the Italian plight under control. His party friends on both sides of the Brenner can show who their hearts really belong to: the local population along the transit corridors, or the right-wing populist party comrades with the moneybags of the truck lobby in Rome,” says Weratschnig.