A top euroskeptic politician has ripped the response of the European Union and the European Central Bank as the novel coronavirus plagues the health of thousands of Italians.
Ex-Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Salvini, who rose to power on the wings of a populist resurgence that claimed major electoral victories in 2016 from the United States to the United Kingdom and beyond, lashed out at European leaders who he claims have failed to respond adequately to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Disconcerted by some of the positions held by the EU, the ECB president and other commissioners do not understand the type of emergency there is in Italy,” Salvini tweeted on Tuesday, according to a translation provided by Twitter and Google.
#Salvini: Su tamponi a tappeto Zaia ha detto che se ne frega del Bilancio? Bene, in emergenza l’unica cosa su cui non puoi risparmiare è la Salute. Sconcerto per alcune prese di posizione UE, presidente Bce e altri commissari non hanno capito che tipo di emergenza c’è in Italia.
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) March 17, 2020
The situation in Italy has spiraled out of control this past week with more than 2,000 deaths reported and over 30,000 infections. The Italian government responded on Monday by injecting $25 billion into its economy to help farmers and families who are trying to stay afloat during a weekslong quarantine policy enacted over 14 days ago.
“This is a weighty economic package. We never thought we could face this flood with mops and buckets,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during a news conference.
The money comes almost three weeks after Salvini demanded the Italian government to infuse more than $10 billion into the economy. Although the money provides a much-needed lifeline for Italian citizens, politicians such as Salvini claim the hard-hit country needs more help from European leaders to overcome the disease’s outbreak.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has urged EU leaders to prioritize financial infusions to stabilize the economic downturn experienced by the public and private sectors across a range of industries from manufacturing to transportation. Lagarde warned that markets can expect to experience a financial situation that mirrors the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.
Salvini made a name for himself in Italy and throughout the political world for his hard-line anti-immigrant stance, blocking boats carrying migrants from North African countries during his time as deputy prime minister. He is expected to run for the Italian premiership in the future.
“In an emergency, the only thing you can’t save on is health,” added Salvini.
