The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the conservative Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party, is on the verge of consolidating a significant victory in the elections for the European Parliament this Sunday. The triumph could guarantee him a central role in the European political scene.
Rise and leadership
Meloni, who became the first woman to govern Italy in 2022, sees her party reaching around 27% of the vote, according to the latest polls. This represents a comfortable margin over the left-wing Democratic Party (PD), led by Elly Schlein, which is expected to obtain approximately 22%.
In the 2019 European elections, Irmãos de Itália performed modestly with 6,4% of the vote. However, the League, led by Matteo Salvini, was the big winner, with 34,3%. Currently, the scenario is reversed, with Meloni ahead, while the League should fall to around 8%.
Current political context
Since the 2022 legislative elections, in which Meloni won 25,9% of the vote, she has consolidated her position as Italy's main political force. His coalition with the League and Força Itália appears stable, although Salvini, known for his eurosceptic and pro-Putin positions, has had his influence diminished.
The PD, under the leadership of Schlein, remains stable compared to previous elections, while Força Itália, now led by Antonio Tajani after the death of Silvio Berlusconi, also shows signs of resilience, hoping to reach 9% of the vote.
Impact on the European Union
Meloni, even though he does not actively participate in the electoral campaign, is the central figure of this election, largely due to external interest. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, expressed openness to cooperate with Meloni and his group, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ERC).
Under the motto “With Giorgia, Italy changes Europe”, Meloni seeks to replicate in the European Union the right-wing majority he established in Italy. His goal is to create a right-wing alliance that can challenge the traditional cooperation between the large center parties (PPE, Socialists and Liberals).
Although the unification of European right-wing forces seems unlikely, due to their differences, Meloni believes in the possibility of a great alliance of conservatives, the nature of which, whether radical or moderate, is still open.
Elections to the European Parliament
Elections in Italy will take place on June 08th and 09th, with polls closing at 23pm local time on Sunday. Expectations are high regarding the result and the impact it will have on both Italian politics and the configuration of the European Union.
Giorgia Meloni is one step closer to consolidating her power in both Italy and the European Union, marking a new era of influence for the conservative right on the continent.
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