Giorgia Meloni poised for victory in European Elections
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aims for a significant triumph in the upcoming European Elections this Sunday. Her party, Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia), is projected to secure around 27% of the votes, translating to approximately 25 seats in the European Parliament, according to leading polls.
Brothers of Italy, which garnered 6.4% of the votes and five seats in the 2019 European elections, is now emerging as a major force. Meloni seeks to leverage her national policies to influence European Union (EU) policies from Strasbourg and Brussels. Known for her sovereignist and anti-immigration stance, Meloni has become a focal point in the electoral campaign, especially as the European People’s Party (EPP) has shown openness to potential collaboration.
Currently part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which includes Spain’s VOX party, Brothers of Italy aims to surpass Poland’s Law and Justice party in seats, becoming the ECR’s leading party.
Meloni, like most Italian political leaders, is running as the lead candidate but is likely to forgo her European Parliament seat to retain her national deputy role. This tactic is common among top political figures in Italy, who often appear on ballots but continue in national positions.
Opposition and other parties
The Democratic Party (PD), a social-democratic faction, is the primary competitor, aiming to replicate its past success. In the 2014 European elections, under Matteo Renzi, the PD achieved over 40% of the vote. Elly Schlein, a former MEP and prominent figure in the 2015 ‘Occupy PD’ movement, now leads the PD. In the 2019 elections, the PD secured 22.7% of the votes and 19 seats and is now striving to maintain its second-place position with similar figures.
Following the PD, the Five Star Movement (M5S), led by former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, seeks to match its 2019 results of 17% of the votes and 14 seats, despite slight dips in recent polls.
Conversely, Matteo Salvini’s League (Lega) faces potential losses. After a remarkable 34% vote share and 29 seats in 2019, the League is now contending with Forza Italia for fourth place, with polls predicting around 8.5% of the votes and 7-8 seats. Salvini has advocated for a coalition between the EPP, ID, and ECR to challenge the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the Renew Europe (RE) groups, which currently lead the European Commission alongside the EPP.
High-profile candidates
A notable aspect of the European elections in Italy is the presence of prominent political figures as lead candidates. This year’s ballots include the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and other party leaders, many of whom are expected to relinquish their European Parliament seats to remain in national roles. According to EU regulations, positions such as government members or national parliament deputies are incompatible with being a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
The projected victory in the European Elections for Brothers of Italy could significantly impact the EU’s political landscape, with Meloni poised to exert considerable influence over EU policies. As official results are awaited, the outcomes will not only shape Italy’s representation in the European Parliament but also determine the balance of power within the broader EU framework.
