Rome, Italy – It was never in doubt. As pollsters had predicted throughout a chaotic election campaign, Italy is set to be led by its most right-wing government since World War II.
Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, a largely marginal figure in Italian politics until a few years ago, emerged triumphant in Sunday’s election. The 45-year-old is now set to become prime minister, leading a right-wing coalition that won over 43% of the vote.
“If we are called to govern this nation, we will do so for all Italians, with the aim of uniting people rather than dividing them, of making them proud to be Italians, of waving the Italian flag,” he said. said Meloni at the start. hours of Monday, in a brief speech after the first result of the projections. “You chose us, and we won’t betray you,” she said, visibly moved.
Campaigning under the slogan “God, Family and Fatherland”, Meloni ran an aggressive campaign calling for the preservation of Christian identity and the “traditional” family, and of a country populated primarily by Italian patriots.
Critics warn that such a view is one of exclusion and that a government led by Meloni will be one where civil rights are at risk – especially for the gay community – where access to abortion will be restricted. and where the lives of refugees and migrants, both newcomers and those already living in Italy, will be increasingly hampered.
The far-right leader also pledged to impose a naval bloc and push back “masses of illegal immigrants”, while putting the interests of Italians above all else in the European Union.
His approach to the EU reflects years of bad blood.
Founded in 2012, Brothers of Italy took advantage of growing popular discontent sparked by the eurozone debt crisis, which it blamed on “European bureaucrats” and financial markets. The tone is now more subdued, but the substance remains the same, according to critics.
“His international allies reflect his far-right political vision which will make it difficult to maintain good ties with European institutions,” said Pieri Ignazi, professor of political science at the University of Bologna, referring to Hungarian Viktor Orban, at the French Marine le Pen and the Spaniard Vox. party which hopes to achieve the same success in next year’s elections. “His position is to limit the process of integration of the European Union and to return the power to each nation,” he added.
Ignazi points to Meloni’s refusal last week to join the European Parliament in condemning Hungary for democratic violations. “Such protective behavior with Orban shows an acceptance of what he has done in terms of limitations on the rule of law and freedom of expression,” he said.
While other far-right politicians in Europe like French ultra-nationalist Eric Zemmour and Vox party leader Santiago Abascal rushed to congratulate Meloni on his victory, more traditional leaders were more cautious.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he respects the “democratic choicefrom the Italian people, adding that as “neighbors and friends”, the two countries would continue to work together, while Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France would closely monitor abortion and human rights in Italy.
The European Commission has said it hopes for a constructive relationship with the next Italian government.
The election was an unprecedented victory for the Brethren in Italy, considering it was only polled at 4% in 2018. But questions now arise over how the party, whose members n most of them have experience in local politics, will be able to find candidates capable of taking the place of ministers.
“It’s a party that’s used to standing outside the system, which hasn’t had many opportunities to strengthen its leadership,” said Gregory Alegi, professor of history and politics at the Louis University. “Now that he’s reached government by skipping an intermediate step … that’s going to be a problem,” he said. A problem that could emerge even more at EU level where politicians need to know how to navigate often complicated negotiations, Alegi said.
The party will essentially be learning on the job, but at the same time as Italy prepares to enter winter amid a biting energy crisis and high inflation. The new leadership will need knowledge, Alegi said, but also support from the EU, especially as the country receives the biggest share of a EU Recovery Fund.
Washington is also watching closely.
Meloni has been clear about her support for Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow, but her coalition partners have openly expressed sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Salvini, a longtime admirer of Putin, has repeatedly insisted that the sanctions must be reconsidered.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, for his part, struck up a personal friendship with the Russian leader, and the two even took vacations together. The 85-year-old said on Thursday that Putin only wanted to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a government “made up of honest people”, but he encountered “unexpected resistance” on the ground.
“We are ready to welcome any political force capable of being more constructive in relations with Russia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after the elections.
Before the campaign, Meloni got his coalition partners to agree to support Ukraine. And Salvini’s relatively poor performance in the League elections, compared to the Brethren of Italy, strengthened his position.
Experts say the risks for Italy to divest from its decade-long transatlantic alliance are simply too high.
“Given Italy’s interests and interconnections, there is no tactical advantage in running outside the Western alliance,” Alegi said.
“I don’t expect a U-turn in the middle of a highwayman, the political price would be too high.”