The parliamentary confirmation hearing of Raffaele Fitto, the candidate for EU Commission executive vice president (EVP) responsible for reforms and cohesion policy, went exactly as expected: with a flood of leftist attacks that didn’t even shy away from branding the former EU affairs minister a “neo-fascist”—just because the Left can’t accept that a conservative would be given a top seat in the EU executive.
Leftist parties—especially the social democrat S&D—repeatedly threatened to blow up the entire Commission formation process if President-elect Ursula von der Leyen didn’t revoke Fitto’s nomination as EVP. Von der Leyen—who put Fitto up to the post in an attempt to mend her strained relationship with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni—resisted, knowing that her EPP, with help from the right-wing parties, has enough votes, even if relying on the Right would anger her traditional left-wing allies.
Unlike in most cases, the group coordinators delayed the vote on whether to confirm Fitto, saying that they want to make a decision about vice presidents only when all six of their hearings are over. This could very well be part of a political game if left-wing parties intend to vote against him but also want to avoid a potential EPP retaliation during their candidates’ later hearings.
Regardless, Fitto’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday, November 12th, showed again just how partisan and ideologically driven the European left wing is, even after Fitto began his opening remarks by stating he’s not looking to represent any party or member state, but was there to affirm his “commitment to Europe.”
“You have been in lockstep with neo-fascists,” said Spanish Green MEP Ana Miranda Paz, referring to Fitto’s national conservative ruling party, the Brothers of Italy (FdI), of whom he became a member in 2019, years after leaving the late Berlusconi’s center-right Forza Italia.
“As the extreme right is spreading throughout Europe, as a candidate for commissioner, you are a symbol of this neo-fascist whitewashing,” Miranda Paz continued. “Are you really fit for the role given your background?”
“That was very constructive and helpful,” Fitto replied, allowing himself a brief moment of sarcasm and earning a round of applause from conservatives in the room. “I don’t know what your idea of a ‘fascist’ is, but that’s up to you.”
Rasmus Andresen, a German Green MEP, followed up by rebuking Fitto for not distancing himself from parts of his party like its youth wing, which Andresen claims “makes fascist salutes and uses racist language.”
Hungarian socialist MEP Klára Dobrev not only brought up Fitto’s party affiliation but also how the commissioner-designate stood by Poland and Hungary when they were singled out by Brussels for their right-wing policies. Dobrev asked whether Fitto would support the Commission’s rule-of-law battles against Hungary’s conservative government, including the use of Article 7 to freeze its funds and suspend its membership rights if that was on the table.
As a clear provocation, Dobrev went as far as to suggest that the same treatment could be awaiting Italy as well. “The government of Giorgia Meloni will also be there in a similar situation,” she said with a smile. “What will your position be in that case?”
Calmly, albeit visibly annoyed, Fitto explained again that he would serve Europe and not member states, and that Commission decisions are made in a “collegial” manner. However, he wisely left the last bit of Dobrev’s remark unaddressed.
Of course, many right-wing lawmakers came to Fitto’s help and denounced the leftist attacks, most of which questioned Fitto’s objectivity as a conservative candidate, despite the veteran politician repeatedly testifying about his expertise by going into intricate details of the EU’s cohesion policy.
“I welcome your calm and objective manner of answering the questions, especially when confronted with these disgusting attacks,” Hungarian MEP Tamás Deutsch from the ruling Fidesz party said.
In his closing remarks, Fitto once again talked about the need to surpass party politics if Europe wants to tackle the numerous challenges it faces.
“I should like to recall that five years ago [as an MEP], I was the coordinator of my political group in this committee. There were political differences, but nonetheless, I voted in favor of [the previous Commissioner for Cohesion Elisa] Ferreira, because it was the institutional aspect that prevailed,” Fitto said. He went on:
Europe needs now more than ever this type of approach. Europe needs now more than ever for us to be able to give certainty. We cannot, at this time, have partisan interests. We must all work together for our common interest. And this is something that must prevail above all.
