«It was night, I woke up for the notifications that came to me on the phone. American intelligence had already warned a possible invasion of Russia, which was taking place, and I was awake from that moment on. Reading the analyzes I thought about the film What remains of the day: We were as aristocrats who discuss in the living room of what can happen, while the Nazis invade.
Although history repeats itself, many European analysts had underestimated Putin ». Pina Picierno, vice -president of the European Parliament, remembers well where it was on February 24, 2022when the first Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border. Since then he has constantly spent on the defense of Kiev, marrying the plan READINESS 2030 of Ursula von der Leyen, more in line with the European socialist group than with the Italian MEPs of the Democratic Party. Two months ago he was put under escort for the threats of the Philorussian networkbut he did not stop dealing with Ukraine, of whom he has just talked to the Rimini meeting, because “I can’t say that I was not afraid, but I go on”. As he speaks gesticulate, he shakes, he arranges the hair. “I’ve always been passionate. I was rebellious, mine struggled to contain me ». After inheriting the name, Giuseppina, by the paternal grandmother – “the one who commanded, at my father’s house” – also took the attitude.
The peace negotiation between Trump, Putin and Zelensky is underway: is it the right time?
«Although it remains surprised by the myopia of the usual analysts, who also in these days when we discuss what happened first in Alaska, then to Washington,
They don’t want to see that Putin has no willingness to pursue peace, today I am more confident. Thanks to the action of the group of willing, to which our Prime Minister was added in the end – and now finally our country is where its history places it naturally, that is, among the European avant -garde – the isolation of Ukraine and Europe has been prevented. Putin and Trump have the same goal, dividing the world by spheres of influence, but there will be no one
peace signed on the skin of the Ukrainians ».
She voted in favor of European rearmament, while in Italy there is very skepticism, in various parties and also in his.
«I think there is a very superficial debate on this. Ursula von der Leyen’s “rearma plan” had a terrible name, and it was changed, but beyond this we must ask ourselves: what does it mean to talk about defense today? We have a world in front of a world that has changed at an impressive speed, in which the need for safety imposes itself on everything, and in which the so -called “Merkel doctrine” – which contracted the defense to the USA, the market to China and the energy to Russia – no longer exists. Therefore, today security means dealing with the cables that are under the Baltic Sea, for example, that often the Russians tranciano. Of non -linear war, the hybrid war, such as attempts to interference on our public opinions. Of space. It is not a question of “sending our children to the front”, but in Italy everything is folded to the needs of a controversy that often feeds on polarization ».
It’s populism, isn’t it?
“Exact. I call him, indeed, bipopulism ».
What does it mean?
“In Italy we have right and left -wing populism, both bend reality for electoral needs”.
At this moment, however, it is Elly Schlein who has electoral scratches. The left no longer wins from the 2014 European Championships, those that brought it to Brussels.
«But the new world, we were talking about, does not wait. A new world requires a new left. Capable, for example, to be based on rights and freedoms, of defending the liberal democracies that are challenged at the moment by self -conscious and which are at risk of fascination for autocrazies, see what is happening in America with Trump. A new left is needed that is not only capable of dusting off the old identity themes that are no longer needed ».
For example?
«All the rhetoric around pacifism, a myopia of the left of today. I am a convinced pacifist, but there are historical moments in which you have to help resistance, and today Ukrainian resistance is like that of our partisans in ’45. Carola Rackete, who cannot be said on the right, voted with me the possibility of authorization for Ukraine to hit military goals in Russia. We cannot ask a country attacked to defend ourselves with tied hands ».
On this Elly Schlein is closer to Giuseppe Conte, his ally.
“Of course, but what Conte writes on Ukraine is very similar to Putin’s tissue, you can’t close a eye. You need a left that tells it, capable of not being afraid ».
In this new left, therefore, isn’t Schlein?
«I have a lot of esteem for the secretary, even if in the differences that are evident. I think Schlein’s left is very identity, very folded on itself. I would like a more courageous, more open, more plural, more Europeanist, less worried Democratic Party than the dispute with Conte ».
Would you like the Democratic Party to run without the 5 Star Movement?
«I would like it to really emanate, because now it is in a somewhat narrow place. To confront Conte without suffering it, we must establish red lines. This is what political leadership are needed. Schlein should fully take the profile of the leader of the progressive field, capable of looking at this world that changes, dangerous. The principle is passing that international law is not defended, but the law of the strongest applies. And then we must expect that tomorrow morning, what do I know, Xi Jinping takes Taiwan, Trump the Greenland … ».
… and Netanyahu Palestine.
“Of course, it’s exactly the same thing. Because between the dictators and the
Autocrats there is obviously also Netanyahu, who now does what he wants and has the serious responsibility of wanting to transform, slowly but inexorably, that which remains the only democracy of the Middle East, Israel, into an autocracy “.
She also did not sin of naivety by underestimating Netanyahu, like those who had underestimated Putin?
«If we want to be realistic, however we cannot fail to trace differences. In Russia there is no freedom of expression, in Israel millions of people take to the streets against the government “.
Now that the occupation of Gaza by the Israeli army has begun, did not regret having met the exponents of the Idsf, the far -right Israeli right a year ago?
«No, because I always played my role with clarity and transparency. The meeting took place a year ago, to talk about anti -Semitism, a topic of which I delegate as vice -president. When an institutional function takes place, you are no longer part of it. My political opinions totally diverge from those of that association, in the Middle East I have always voted in line with the socialist group and the Democratic Party. And in any case it was an unlimited association ».
Perhaps this is the problem: Europe was slow to sanction Israeli entities that supported genocide.
«Europe is still slow and not very effective on Israel because it is hostage to veto rights and crossed interests in which goods and business come before human rights. International law for me is a polar star, in Gaza as in Kiev, and a stronger, more incisive, most authoritative voice of Europe would be needed: it was necessary to do more, starting with the sanctions ».
Do you want to suspend the EU-Israel Association agreement?
«Yes, because at the terrible moment we are needed to put the Netanyahu government on the corner. And the signs also count: for this reason I asked, a year and a half ago, that the state of Palestine was recognized ».
He has lived in Brussels for years, do you want to stay there?
“Here is my family, we are fine, it is a cosmopolitan city. My son already speaks three languages ».
Did you know her languages?
«No, I arrived with school English and I learned it here. I’ve always had to demonstrate everything three times, like all women, right? ».
It is in the second term. Isn’t there two without three?
«Vice -presidents are renewed every two years, I don’t know what will happen. Without a doubt I can say that Europe has been, and it is, a choice that I renew every day with great conviction, but I could also make politics outside the institutions. Making politics is struggle, it is passion, it is civil commitment. I always do it ».
Did he dream of the teenager politics?
“No, I wanted to be a journalist. At high school I had participated in a transmission by Raisat, The school liveas a co-deductive. Then I also started dreaming of being the author of programs. With great scorno of my parents ».
Why?
«My father and mother loved me absolutely doctor, when I was little, the barbie dressed as a doctor gave me. But immediately they understood that I wanted to do something else, I was a very autonomous, strong, disobedient girl. Then, when I chose communication sciences and passed the entrance test, they did not make me go to Rome, but in Salerno ».
And then what happened?
“I graduated and started working in various realities, also in RaiSat, crowning my dream.”
Then did he move on to politics?
«No, I started before, at 14. I was born and raised in the province of Caserta, who was not a very simple context forty years ago. I started with the anti -mafia movement, the student one and with the free of Don Ciotti, then at 26 I was elected parliamentary. My jump from Caserta to Brussels was demanding, difficult, but I am grateful to my hard head that put me in a position to be able to do it. I chose to do politics because it was the most concrete tool I had, I didn’t want to keep quiet in the face of injustices, the disgust I saw around, in the presence of organized crime. I started doing it because I didn’t like the politicians I saw, because they remained silent ».
No desire to return to Italy, perhaps in the new left that dreams?
“None. Here I have learned many things, and the most precious is the balance, because to achieve a goal you proceed in small steps in the European institutions. And for a passionate like me, patience was a great discovery ».
Source: Vanity Fair
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