Graham Watson, a Liberal Democrat who previously represented South West England in the European Parliament from 1994 to 2014, is making a comeback. He has been invited to run in Italy by an alliance led by the country’s former prime minister, Matteo Renzi. Watson is part of the pro-European coalition called “Stati Uniti d’Europa” (United States of Europe), which includes Renzi’s Italia Viva party and Più Europa, led by former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino.
Watson, who holds Italian citizenship due to his marriage to an Italian, occupies the top slot on the coalition’s candidate list for the North-East Italy constituency. His chances of being elected are estimated at “50:50.” His campaign aims to emphasize that there is still a place for UK citizens in the heart of Europe, despite Brexit. Watson’s decision to run in Italy was influenced by the rise of the far right and the threat posed by Russia to the EU.
The north-east of Italy, where he is running, is a stronghold of the far-right Lega party, led by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini. Watson’s presence in the European Parliament sends a message that other Europeans are not opposed to individual British people but rather to the unpopular UK government’s policies within the EU.
