Gori: "EU Defense and Arms for Kyiv Are the PES Line. The Party Cannot Afford Such Rifts"

Giorgio Gori, an Italian Member of the European Parliament for the Democratic Party (PD), has voiced strong criticism regarding the foreign policy resolution jointly presented by the PD, the Five Star Movement (M5S), and the Alliance of Greens and Left (Avs). Gori asserts that military support for Ukraine and the reinforcement of continental defense are fundamental tenets shared not only by European democracies but also by the European Socialist Party (PES) and the S&D group.

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It would be very serious to withhold European support from Ukraine, which is fighting against Russian aggression and because Europe itself, no longer able to rely on the protection of the United States, is exposed to new threats.

"It would be very serious to withhold European support from Ukraine, which is fighting against Russian aggression," Gori stated, emphasizing that Europe can no longer solely rely on U.S. protection and faces new threats. He believes that diverging from this established position means breaking ties with European democracies and European socialism. Gori expressed doubt that the PD, or the coalition as a whole, can afford such a significant rift, especially since these foreign policy points are considered a minimum requirement for any party aspiring to govern Italy.

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Diverging from this framework means breaking with European democracies and with European socialism. I do not believe that the PD can afford such a fracture, nor the coalition as a whole, because these two points, as Gentiloni explained well in his interview with Corriere, are a minimum requirement for those who want to run the country.

Currently, the PD, M5S, and Avs hold differing views: while they agree on European defense, M5S and Avs oppose increased military spending and remain silent on the European Defence Fund (Safe). Gori countered this by explaining that defense competence still largely resides with member states, making coordination of national investments essential. He argued that Safe aims to reduce investment fragmentation and prevent countries from choosing between welfare and defense, making its rejection contradictory for proponents of European defense.

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From the first party in the coalition, the PD has a double responsibility: it must be generous, but not remiss. Putting decisive choices to the consensus of other parties means putting our own identity in their hands, and that would be a very serious mistake.

Gori also addressed the PD's relationship with M5S, stating that as the largest party in the center-left coalition, the PD has a dual responsibility: to be generous but not submissive. He warned against allowing other parties to dictate crucial choices, which would compromise the PD's identity. Gori is confident that PD leader Elly Schlein understands the party cannot afford to break with European democracies and the socialist family, seeing this as the guiding principle for the party's decisions.

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I think she is aware that the PD cannot afford a break with the great European democracies and with the family of European socialism. For me, this is the beacon that must guide the party's choices.