Mayor Bill de Blasio’s love fest with the European left continues.
The proud liberal Democrat, who has hobnobbed with Paris’ Socialist mayor, told reporters today he feels at home politically in Italy and other European nations, where left-leaning political parties and ideologies hold great sway.
The mayor is on vacation with his family in Italy, where he’s also meeting with Italian officials.
“Of course, of course,” Mr. de Blasio said in response to question about whether he felt “at home” in Italy because he once described himself as a “European-style social Democrat.” “European social democracy has been an important as have other [influences] … I also talked about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal being an important influence and liberation theology being an important influence.”
Mr. de Blasio, who insisted he avoided labeling his ideology, said he always felt a “very strong” personal connection to Italy. He also heaped praise on the mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, a surgeon who belongs to the center-left Italian Democratic Party.
“There’s an instant connection that I feel because we share a philosophical core,” Mr. de Blasio said.
As he was running for mayor, Mr. de Blasio said he was similar to a “European social Democrat” after it was reported that he was once described as an advocate of “Democratic socialism” decades ago.
