Letta: Putin will be happiest if Italian right win

The leader of Italy’s Democratic Party has told the BBC that an electoral victory for Italy’s right of centre parties would be welcomed by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Enrico Letta, the former Italian Prime Minister and the leader of Italy’s centre-left Democratic Party, was speaking to Stephen Sackur in the run up to the country's general election on 25 September.

Leading the polls - and a coalition of three right-wing parties - is the Brothers of Italy’s Giorgia Meloni.

“It is not because of Meloni on that. Because Meloni took the right position even if she was in the opposition,” he said.

“She was in opposition but she supported [Mario] Draghi’s government in taking the position against Putin.

“My fear is about [Matteo] Salvini and [Silvio] Berlusconi. Salvini and Berlusconi took very ambiguous positions in these months... and I am sure that if the right wins in Italy, the one who will be the happiest the night of the 25 September would be Vladimir Putin.”