The EU’s plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035 is a “gift to China,” according to rightwing Italian politician Matteo Salvini.
The remarks were made this week, after the EU announced a new green policy of ending the sale of combustion engine cars in an effort to meet Europe’s climate targets.
However, Salvini, who is now Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Mobility, says that the plan threatens native European industry and benefits the East.
“Petrol, diesel and methane cars outlawed in Europe from 2035?” the Lega leader wrote in a social media post last week.
“A mistake, a gift to China: factories and shops closed in Italy and Europe, workers and artisans without work and wages, and dependence on China for life.
“Lega in Europe will do everything to stop this madness.“
Auto a benzina, diesel e metano fuorilegge in Europa dal 2035?
Un errore, un regalo alla Cina: fabbriche e negozi chiusi in Italia e in Europa, operai e artigiani senza lavoro e stipendio, e dipendenza a vita dalla Cina.
La Lega in Europa farà di tutto per fermare questa follia. pic.twitter.com/Zt6AM1s2Rs— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) October 28, 2022
This is not the first time Salvini has voiced this view, posting an article in June of this year which alleged that “The switchover to electricity hands Western industry into Beijing’s hands.”
“Lega has been saying this for months – the Corriere writes it today,” he said.
“Stopping the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is madness. It is not for the environment, but to lay off millions of people in Europe and to hire just as many in China. The PD? Obviously an accomplice.”
The PD is the Democratic Party of Italy (Partito Democratico), which is a major Leftwing party in Italy known for promoting radical green policies.