Returning from Hammamet, ‘after almost 50 years of institutional commitment my experience in the parties is over, but politics is not over’.

Gianni, a doctor’s opinion on our democracy?

“The health of our democracy is not good, I am strongly concerned when I see that three people (Trump, Putin and Xi Jinping, ed.) are handing out zones of influence. Democracy succumbs to this.”

The new autocrats ‘want to break up the European Union, the greatest democratic experience in history’. There is propaganda financed by those who have an interest in inculcating anti-European sentiments in the citizens, but to give an example , ‘the EU has completely replaced the extraordinary intervention of the Cassa del Mezzogiorno, without European funds no infrastructure in southern Italy would have seen the light of day,’ recalls Lucano.

“Europe must realise that the world needs a democratic power to offset autocracies. That is why overcoming the veto is the first step, then a common foreign policy based also on enhanced cooperation, with those who are up for it. In the meantime, however, it is bridled in its decision-making mechanisms and by the selfishness of states.”

On this he is very clear: “if the Europeans don’t get a move on, it’s over” and as if that were not enough he adds “who will guarantee security in Europe? America?”

Which way then?

“A European fiscal policy, a single currency is fine, but it is crucial that the Union equips itself with a common debt capacity. Not only for tragic circumstances like COVID or the 90 billion to Ukraine. We would need, as Draghi points out in his competitiveness report, to issue Eurobonds of at least 800 billion per year.”

What for?

“To finance a foreign policy, a common defence, an energy policy that does not leave automotive behind, and above all to multiply Erasmus.”

He goes on to say, “let’s finance Europe’s common goods: democracy, citizens’ security, defence against cyber threats and incursions, research, free healthcare, the continent’s human resources and European digital champions.”

“And Erasmus,” he repeats, clearly a staunch supporter of the programme.

What future for Ukraine instead?

“I am very worried about Ukraine”, in the under-the-table partitioning between Trump and Putin it is expected that Ukraine will have to give in. “Apart from solidarity with an invaded people” – and here he warms up – “because it must always be remembered there is an invaded and there is an invader, they are not the same”, he emphasises one theme: “the EU cannot allow a country to be invaded at its borders and then forced into an unjust peace”.

Regarding Ukraine’s entry into the Union, ‘it takes a strong political will’ but how the war of aggression against Ukraine ends will make a difference for the future of Europe: ‘as a socialist I say to you, a mortification of Ukraine is a defeat for Europe’.

As the editorial team of L’Europeista, we thank Gianni Pittella for his time.