Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is setting her sights on a bigger stage – the European Parliament. With far-right parties gaining momentum across Europe, Meloni sees an opportunity to lead a right-wing force that could shape policy in Brussels.
At a recent rally in Madrid, Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party, rallied her supporters alongside prominent figures like Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally and Santiago Abascal of Spain’s Vox party. The far right has seen success in Italy and the Netherlands, and is leading in polls in France, Austria, and Belgium.
However, internal divisions threaten to derail the far-right surge, as seen with Germany’s AfD party being ousted from the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament due to scandals and controversial views.
Despite these challenges, Meloni remains optimistic about the potential for a right-wing coalition to influence European politics. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which includes parties like Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice, could find common ground with the center-right European People’s Party led by Ursula von der Leyen.
While the far-right parties share common themes of nativism, authoritarianism, and populism, their approaches to the EU vary. Some, like Austria’s Freedom Party, campaign on an anti-EU platform, while others, like Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, have shifted towards a more pro-Europe stance.
As the European elections approach, the far right is more organized and connected than ever before, with international ties and networks forming. The question remains whether they can overcome their differences and unite under a common agenda, as Meloni aims to replicate her domestic success on a European scale.
