The Italian far right was hoping for a historic victory on Saturday, on the eve of crucial legislative elections which could make Giorgia Meloni the first leader of a post-fascist party to lead the government of a founding country of the European Community.
The leaders of the main political formations threw their last forces on Friday for the final electoral meetings of the campaign, political silence being imposed on all the candidates from 22:00 GMT until the closing of the polls on Sunday.
In Naples (south), Giorgia Meloni, head of Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) given nearly 25% in the voting intentions, launched a thunderous: “I am a patriot!”.
But it was above all his ally Matteo Salvini, head of the League (anti-immigrants), who occupied the media space by demanding “apologies or the resignation” of Ursula von der Leyen. He criticizes the President of the European Commission for having brandished Thursday in the United States the threat of sanctions in the event of attacks on the democratic principles of the European Union (EU) by Italy.
Polls being banned in the two weeks preceding the election, the latest surveys credited FdI with 24 to 25% of voting intentions, ahead of the Democratic Party (PD, centre-left) between 21 and 22%. This is followed by the 5 Star Movement (ex-antisystem) from 13 to 15%, the League at 12%, FI at 8%.
The right/extreme right coalition could win between 45% and 55% of the seats in parliament.
Abstention could exceed 30% in this election, according to analysts, a high figure for Italy.
On the Brussels radar
Brussels is following this election closely, in particular on the sensitive issue of sanctions against Moscow and on the possible tensions that could arise between the Commission and an ultra-conservative and sovereignist government.
Solidarity with NATO since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine under the leadership of Mario Draghi, Rome has traditionally maintained cordial relations with Moscow.
Silvio Berlusconi, the third partner of the conservative coalition with Forza Italia, raised the controversy by declaring Thursday evening that Vladimir Putin had been “pushed” by his population to invade Ukraine.
When he was head of government, Berlusconi befriended the Russian president, whom he received personally in his villa in Sardinia and with whom he traveled to Crimea after the annexation of this Ukrainian peninsula by Russia in 2014. Faced with the outcry caused by his last words, he reaffirmed on Friday his “absolute loyalty” to NATO and the EU.
Matteo Salvini is pushing for an easing of sanctions against Moscow, which he considers ineffective and counterproductive, while deeming the invasion of Ukraine “unjustifiable”.
Atlanticist, Giorgia Meloni, on the other hand, has taken clear positions in favor of support for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and the sending of arms to Kyiv.
The Italian press echoed these concerns on Saturday. “Zelensky to the Italians: ‘don’t vote for Putin’s friends'”, wrote the left-wing daily “La Repubblica” on the front page.
“Ultimate challenge on Europe and Putin”, headlined the main Italian daily, “Corriere della Sera”.
Relations with the EU will also be closely scrutinized, Ms. Meloni alternating promises of cooperation with veiled threats.
“We want a strong, serious and respected Italy on the international scene,” she warned.
The right/extreme right coalition promises to keep its European commitments, and Giorgia Meloni has officially shelved her plan to get Italy out of the euro zone, but concerns persist, especially since she has just reiterated her support for the regime Hungarian led by the ultranationalist Viktor Orban.
She calls for the renegotiation of the Italian post-Covid recovery plan, financed to the tune of nearly 200 billion euros (263.6 billion Canadian dollars) by Europe, to take into account the surge in energy costs. in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.
However, the disbursement of funds is linked to a series of reforms whose implementation was scrupulously respected by the outgoing government of Mario Draghi and which now seem to be compromised.
For Meloni, “the party is over”, Italy “will begin to defend its national interests as the others do”.