Italy’s Love-In With Orban Makes No Sense
On immigration, the two countries’ interests are diametrically opposed.
Orban and Salvini, BFFs.
Photographer: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
This week’s meeting between Viktor Orban and Matteo Salvini was a true love-in between the two populists. The Hungarian prime minister and the Italian deputy back-slapped each other, vowing to radically transform the European Union, first and foremost by halting illegal immigration.
The leaders of the Fidesz and League parties talked of forming an alliance in the next European parliament to take on what they called the “pro-immigration” forces led by Emmanuel Macron. The French president promptly took up the challenge: “If they want to see me as their main opponent, they are right,” he said defiantly on Wednesday.