ROME (Sputnik) – The Western states have to give up the idea that the "export" of democracy may be conducted with the help of weapons, if they aim to defeat international terrorism, Vice President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies Luigi Di Maio said Tuesday.
"We cannot resume sharing the idea that we export democracy via bombs," Di Maio, one of the leaders of the Italy's opposition Five Star Movement (M5S) party, told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Di Maio labeled the idea of export of democracy as "reckless" and called for development of European democracies.
Di Maio urged Italian ruling parties to end aggressive international policy and instead to focus on the protection of democracy in Italy in order to counter terrorism.
The politician stressed that terrorism spread primarily in unstable states, illustrating his point with the examples of Syria and Libya.