The right-wing coalition in Italy led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, is currently facing a dispute over how to handle the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The coalition partners, Lega and Forza Italia, are divided on their approach to the AfD. While Vize-Regierungschef Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia strongly opposes any alliance with the AfD, Matteo Salvini of Lega maintains close ties with the German party.
The disagreement within Italy’s right-wing tripartite coalition stems from Salvini’s declaration that his party, Lega, will never support the reelection of current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In response, Vize-Regierungschef Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia made it clear that they will not align themselves with the AfD due to conflicting values. This division highlights the differing views among the coalition partners on the issue of cooperation with the AfD.
Within the coalition led by Ministerpräsidentin Giorgia Meloni, Lega and Forza Italia are the smaller partners. While Lega, led by Minister of Transport Salvini, has close ties to the AfD, Forza Italia, founded by the late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, aligns with the same family of parties as the CDU/CSU in Europe. Fratelli d’Italia, led by Meloni, is currently leading in the polls for the upcoming European elections, with both Lega and Forza Italia trailing behind. The European Social Democrats have warned against forming alliances with right-wing parties in the European Parliament post-election.
The European Social Democrats have firmly stated their stance against collaborating with right-wing parties in the European Parliament, including the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) groups. The call for all democratic European parties to reject any form of normalization or alliance with right-wing extremists is directed towards parties like the ECR, which include Giorgia Meloni’s party, as well as the AfD belonging to the ID group. Both factions are projected to gain seats in the upcoming European elections.
The focus of the SPE’s appeal is primarily on the European People’s Party (EPP), which includes parties like the CDU and CSU. Ursula von der Leyen, the EPP’s lead candidate and current EU Commission President, has not ruled out the possibility of seeking reelection with the support of the ECR in the European Parliament. The ongoing tensions within Italy’s coalition and the broader implications for European political alliances highlight the complexity and diversity of approaches towards right-wing parties across the continent, as the European elections draw near.
