Biden claims Russia is actively assisting Italy's 5-Star Movement, Lega Nord

The former US vice president said Russia was increasing its attempts to influence the outcome of elections across Europe

Joe Biden served as US Vice-President under democrat Barack Obama
Joe Biden served as US Vice-President under democrat Barack Obama

Russia has helped, and is still helping, political parties in Italy – namely the 5-star movement and Lega Nord in its efforts to destabilise the status quo in Europe, former US vice president Joe Biden has claimed. 

In an article in Foreign Affairs, Biden claims that the US had evidence of Russian involvement and support for the two parties in last December’s constitutional referendum in Italy. 

That referendum led to the resignation of then-prime minister Matteo Renzi. Biden claimed that the two parties were still receiving financial and intelligence support from Russia as Italy gears up for a general election expected by March 2018. 

"Russia has influenced the referendum on constitutional reforms in Italy. Now a similar effort is moving to support the nationalists of [Lega Nord] and the 5-star movement in the next parliamentary elections,” Biden wrote in the article this week. He accused the Kremlin of attempting to influence political campaigns around the world in recent months.

The Putin strategy, according to Biden includes plans to destabilise Europe and the US from within and make it less capable of opposing Moscow. “This includes the initiatives launched to influence the elections.”

“In France, the offensive failed, but Russia did not give up, and took similar steps to influence political campaigns in various European countries, including referendums in the Netherlands (on the integration of Ukraine into Europe), Italy (on institutional reforms), and in Spain (on the secession of Catalonia).”

"A similar Russian effort is underway to support the nationalist movement of [Lega Nord] and the populist 5-star movement in Italy, in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections."