Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party won the European elections in Italy with a decisive 28% of the vote. This triumph enhances her domestic leadership and elevates her status in Europe.
A Rising Popularity
The Brothers of Italy has consolidated its position as the country’s most popular party. They improved on their performance of 26% in the 2022 general elections. RAI, the state television, presented the results after over 70% of the ballots were tabulated.
Impact on Governance Partners
This victory for the Brothers of Italy comes at the price of their political allies. Matteo Salvini’s hard-right League has suffered a major setback. The League, which won more than 34% of the vote in the 2019 EU election, received only 8.5% this time. They even trailed behind Forza Italia, which garnered over 9%.
Opposition Parties
The main centre-left Democratic Party received 24.5% of the vote. Meanwhile, the populist Five Star Movement saw its support drop to 10.5%, a decrease of seven points from the 2019 election.
Meloni’s Influence in Europe
By personalizing her electoral campaign, Meloni has become one of the most influential figures in the EU. Far-right parties have made significant gains, dealing defeats to leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Meloni’s Reaction
At her party’s headquarters, Meloni expressed pride in her party’s achievements. “I’m proud that we are heading to the G7 and to Europe with the strongest government of all,” she said. She described the outcome as “extraordinary” and pledged to use it as “fuel” for the future.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the strong support, Meloni’s government will need a strong mandate to address upcoming challenges, particularly Italy’s fragile public finances and the 2025 budget.
Increased Seats in European Parliament
Based on the latest projections, Meloni’s party is expected to secure between 23 to 25 seats in the European Parliament. This is a significant increase from the six seats it held after the 2019 elections when it was a minor opposition party.