FRENCH and Italian media have descended on key Scottish battleground seats as interest in a second referendum grows on the continent.
Broadcaster France24 interviewed SNP candidate Tony Giugliano in Dumbarton last week, while French newspaper La Libre Belgique and Radio France spoke to the party’s Paul McLennan in Dunbar yesterday.
With the SNP’s policy focussing on an independent Scotland rejoining the EU, and the impact of Brexit becoming clearer, this election has proved intriguing for citizens in Europe.
Tristan de Bourbon, a reporter for La Libre Belgique, explained why the French are so interested in the upcoming Holyrood election.
READ MORE: More than 170 cultural figures call for EU to welcome Scotland back
He said: “We know that the election is important because of the referendum. If the SNP gets a big majority, an overall majority in Holyrood the referendum could be in the next few months or years, it will put a lot of pressure on Westminster and Boris Johnson to agree to a referendum.
“I covered the last referendum in 2014 and it was a big thing for French people and French media because they wanted to know why Scotland wanted to be independent.
“There are also strong relations between Scotland and France for centuries and so they wanted to know what was going on, what was the motivation of the Scottish people and the SNP.
“Because no-one saw the SNP coming up so quickly and so strongly in the polls, in power, and everything has been planned for the SNP not to get a majority with the electoral system – and still they succeeded. So they wanted to know how and why.”
Tony Giugliano, pictured, said: “I was delighted to welcome both France 24 and La Repubblica to discuss Scotland’s future as an independent European nation and our pathway back to Europe.
READ MORE: Scottish election: Poll predicts SNP and Greens will form pro-independence majority
“I made it clear that Scotland has been aligned with the EU’s acquis communautaire for over 40 years and that our EU Continuity Bill will keep EU law in Scots law in devolved areas.
“La Repubblica were particularly interested in the story of my Italian grandparents who immigrated to this constituency and started a new life here. Electing an EU migrant to the Scottish Parliament will send a strong message that we are an open, welcoming nation.
“But it also sends a signal to the continent that we’re a proud European nation and we shall return to the European stage – this time as an independent country.”
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