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Fitto Confirmed as EU Vice-President, Avoiding Controversial Questions

Raffaele Fitto's confirmation hearing for Vice-President of the European Commission focused on technical matters, successfully avoiding controversial political questions regarding his party's stances and past votes.

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PoliticsEuropean UnionEuropeRule Of LawConfirmation HearingEu Commission

European CommissionFratelli D'italiaRenew EuropeMovimento Cinque Stelle

Raffaele FittoGiorgia MeloniSilvio BerlusconiMatteo SalviniRaquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle

What position was Raffaele Fitto nominated for and by whom?: Raffaele Fitto, nominated by Giorgia Meloni, was confirmed as the Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms. During his hearing, he skillfully avoided answering questions about sensitive Italian domestic politics, focusing instead on the technical aspects of his new role.
What was Fitto's overall strategy during the confirmation hearing?: Fitto successfully navigated his confirmation hearing by focusing on technical details of his portfolio and his commitment to the EU, skillfully avoiding potentially controversial questions about his past political views and actions. He secured confirmation without committing to any specific positions on various contentious issues.
How did Fitto respond to concerns about the Hungarian cohesion funds?: The issue of Hungary's withheld cohesion funds was raised several times, with Fitto stating that respect for the rule of law is paramount while avoiding direct comment on the specific case. He pledged equal distance from all 27 member governments, but offered no concrete solutions.
How did Fitto handle questions about his past political stances and voting record?: Fitto emphasized his commitment to serving the EU and not his party or nation, asserting that addressing political issues would violate the code of conduct for the Commission. He repeatedly sidestepped questions regarding his past political positions and voting record.
What were some of the sensitive political issues Fitto avoided addressing during the hearing?: While some MEPs attempted to question Fitto about his party's right-wing stances and his past votes against measures like the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, he deflected these queries. He maintained his commitment to the EU's interests and upholding the rule of law.

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