Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini stated on Monday that the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Pierre Moscovici are "the real enemies of Europe," after the two officials criticized Rome's new budget plans. Speaking at a press conference alongside the leader of the French National Front political party, Marine Le Pen (pictured right), Salvini said that the citizens of Italy "looked beyond bond spread" when they decided to vote for his right-wing Northern League.
Salvini, who also serves as Italy's Interior Minister, went on to say that that the austerity policies pursued by the EU "impoverished" the country and boosted debt. He added that he shares Marine Le Pen's focus on putting jobs first. However, Salvini said earlier today that Italy's exit from euro is not on the government's agenda in the foreseeable future, but emphasized that he wants to put "citizens and the European dream in the first place, not the banks and finance."
