MNI EXCLUSIVE: Italy Lega, 5 Star Aim To Boost Russia Ties

--Outgoing Government Spearheading Anti-Russia Hard Line at EuCo 

--Lega Has Pledged To Boost Relations With Putin 

--5 Star To Focus On Lifting All Sanctions Against Moscow

By Silvia Marchetti

     ROME (MNI) - Italy will spearhead an anti-Russia movement at Friday's

European Council meeting, supporting the UK in the wake of recent events, but

the two populist parties who dominated the recent elections have both pledged a

much softer stances if they rise to power, MNI understands.

     According to sources close to Democrat prime minister Paolo Gentiloni,

Italy, in solidarity with London, is rallying support at both the European Union

and NATO level for a common hard line against Moscow.

     "Gentiloni and UK Prime Minister Theresa May have discussed in recent days

the unacceptable Salisbury event and Rome supports the full legitimacy of the

request made by London's government to have clear responses from Russia on its

role in such grave incident," said the source.

     The official added that both leaders, speaking over the phone, agree that

joint solidarity moves must be made at both EU and NATO levels to send out a

strong message to Moscow.

     The trouble is however that Rome's outgoing Democrat government is expected

to step down in a few weeks, leaving both Lega and the 5 Star Movement aiming to

recover ties with Russia.

     --LEGA'S PUTIN PRAISE

     In an interview with MNI prior to the vote, centre-right Lega party leader

Matteo Salvini praised the government of Vladimir Putin and his "capacity to

enforce sovereignty", pledging that once in power he would pave the way to

"stronger ties with Moscow".

     Salvini's party secured 18% of votes and is Italy's third-largest party now

after 5 Star (32%) and the Democrats (19%). His success has seen him crowned as

leader of the centre-right coalition.

     Putin's re-election this week strengthens the pro-Russia populist stances

in Italy, given that both Lega and the 5 Star are bound to be crucial players in

any future government.

     --RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP

     The 5 Star Movement has also strongly signalled its desire to rebuild

relations with Moscow, dedicating an entire chapter of its manifesto to

Italy/Russia ties.

     Once in power, 5SM pledges to "focus on lifting at once all existing

sanctions against Moscow, which are harming Italian exports and hampering global

cooperation against terrorism".

     "Russia is a strategic, fundamental partner," says the 5SM manifesto, "an

essential interlocutor which cannot be ignored for the future of both Italy and

Europe".

     Moscow is playing a fundamental role in the resolution of international

crises in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, notes the manifesto, which must not be

neglected.

     According to the 5 Star, the "(Western) crisis in the relations with Russia

has negatively impacted on our (Italy) economy with a E3.7 billion drop in

exports last year." But, they note, there are other non-economic issues at stake

as well.

     "We need to consider the regional influence Moscow has in numerous crises

areas, from the Middle East to North Africa, where Russia has become a strategic

partner for Egypt and an influential player in the Libyan crisis," adds the

document.

     --NATO ROLL-BACK

     Italy's electoral campaign, like many other recent campaigns in the West,

was tainted with rumours that Russia was sponsoring a populist victory,

dismissed by both Lega and 5 Stars as "fake news".

     In their manifesto, 5 Star also pledge to push for a thorough NATO reform

to prevent member states giving up further sovereignty, whilst revising the

presence and function of NATO military bases in Italy.

     The program was discussed and approved online by all 5 Star supporters,

which makes it binding on the Movement according to their statutes.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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