The Labor newspaper "The Guardian" writes in an article that the Kremlin is satisfied with the outcome of the Italian political elections. According to Putin, the victory of the Salvini League and the pentastellati could bring Italy closer to Russia in foreign policy. In the article, the correspondent from Rome Stephanie Kirchgaessner notes that in the electoral campaign there was very little talk of foreign policy: but the hints made by both the 5-star Movement (M5s) and the Lega (former Northern League) to the possibility that the country exits from NATO, their request to abandon the sanctions against Russia that have damaged the Italian economy and the support that both have given to the Russian military intervention in Syria suggest, according to the English journalist, a possible removal of Italy from its traditional participation in the Atlantic Alliance and its close ties to the United States. Despite the denials of those concerned, the "Guardian" lists the numerous signs of the ties of the two populist parties with Putin's Russia and cites professor Raffaele Marchetti of the Luiss University of Rome, who recalls how at an event organized the year last from the Russian embassy in Italy there were present politicians belonging to only two Italian parties, precisely the M5s and the Lega. According to an expert quoted by the Labor newspaper, it is not certain that the increased influence of these two parties on Italy's political choices will lead to major changes in relations with Russia; but they may want to negotiate on a series of issues: from the anti-Kremlin use of NATO bases, to their resistance to new anti-Russian sanctions or the renewal of the current ones, to requesting a reduction of the Italian military presence in the Balkans . And then there is Libya, a chessboard where Italy's interests are very strong: M5s and Lega could in fact, according to the "Guardian", be much more flexible on Russian involvement in that theater and be open to negotiations with the General Khalifa Haftar, who controls half the Libyan territory and enjoys the support of Russia; while so far the outgoing Italian government has strongly supported Haftar's rival, that is Prime Minister Fayez al Serraj who leads a government of national unity recognized by the United Nations.
