Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Sunday that he hopes Hillary Clinton wins the presidency.
“I hope the next President of the United States could be a woman,” Renzi said. “Finally.”
Renzi said that his party, the Democratic Party of Italy, and its policies, match up well with Clinton, the Democratic front-runner.
“As member of my party, Democrat Party, obviously I support very strongly Hillary Clinton because I think she is a woman able to give security to every partner, to give a message of cooperation with other partners, to continue the good policy of President Obama,” Renzi told CNN host Fareed Zakaria in an interview Sunday.
Zakaria likened Donald Trump to Silvio Berlusconi, media mogul and former Italian Prime Minister. Berlusconi is a gregarious, right-leaning Italian politician and billionaire. Renzi didn’t endorse the comparison.
“Our experience with a billionaire as prime minister is very complicated,” he said. “I consider Donald Trump a man who invests a lot in a policy of fear.”
Renzi said that, although he backs Clinton, he was not worried about Trump as president, and that he would host whoever the U.S. elects. Other U.S. allies, notably the United Kingdom, have offered tougher takes on Trump.
“I respect the vote of American people, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, independent party, everything,” Renzi said. “We respect because we consider American people as brother, and our first ally, our first partner, our first friend.”
Renzi said he does not think Trump will damage U.S. democracy.
“I’m not worried,” he said. “I don’t agree with Donald Trump’s positions, but at the same time I consider American democracy a model for the rest of the world, also for Italy, and so I’m not worried. The American people will be able to decide about the next president in freedom and in the respect of everyone.”
Renzi praised President Obama, in particular for opening of relations with Cuba, and cutting a deal freezing Irans nuclear weapons program.
“Personally I consider good, positive legacies by Barack Obama the agreement in Cuba and also the agreement in Iran,” he said. “The decision to involve Iran in a new strategy for the area but also for the rest of the world, it’s good.”
“Everyone in Europe considers the Obama presidency as a great presidency,” Renzi said.
