[GTranslate]ROME – Mario Draghi had “beaten” him for the treatment reserved to Ankara to Ursula von der Leyen, on 8 April, when the president of the European Commission had been left without a chair at the official meeting between the EU and Turkey (in the pic above) and was forced to sit on the sofa (hence the name of “sofagate” to the case). “A dictator”, Draghi had defined him. Today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan replies to the Italian premier with equally harsh tones. “The statement by the Italian prime minister was a total rudeness, a total rudeness”, said Erdogan, reminding Draghi that “he was not even elected but only nominated” and after inviting him to “remember history” he added: “This is why I tell you not to give any importance to which words the Italian Prime Minister uses or does not use”.

With his statements, according to Erdogan, “Draghi has unfortunately damaged” the development of “Turkey-Italy relations”. And, in fact, the boycott of Ankara against Italian companies has already begun: for example, the 70 million euro sale of “Leonardo” training helicopters is now at risk.

Meanwhile, transversal solidarity was expressed in Italy with Prime Minister Draghi who is defended by all political forces and who, in turn, has chosen to remain silent.