Far-Right victory in Italy
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The election in Italy was an enormous triumph for the three parties on the far-right wing of Italian politics. Italy will probably get its first female prime minister in Giorgia Meloni. Her party “Fratelli d’Italia” is the big winner of the election. The three parties seem to get over 60% of the vote. These are parties with several ties to fascist and neo-Nazi elements.
Italy is in reality bankrupt
Seen in relation to Gross National Product (GDP), Italy’s national debt is enormous. The figures I have seen are from 2019. At that time, Italy’s national debt amounted to 134.8% of GDP. In comparison, the national debt of France amounts to 98% and Germany below 60%. Italy is completely dependent on the EU economically. At the same time, Italy’s economy is also the EU’s biggest economic problem.
The parties that will form a government together have a major challenge when it comes to finances. Not least because, as usual, reforms were promised that cost money. Another question is whether Giorgia Meloni and her Fratellid’Italiaparty actually have a competent finance minister. Perhaps someone from outside the alliance must be appointed, a person with competence but without a party political affiliation.
Italy’s Far-Right and Russia
What many are wondering is what consequences the election victory will have for Italy’s relations with Russia and Ukraine. Giorgia Meloni has been far more critical of Putin than her two far-right rivals. She has said that Russia’s war in Ukraine is unacceptable. With that, she signals little change in Italy’s support for Ukraine.
For Putin’s close friend and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the election was far from what he had hoped for. His statement just before the election caused great astonishment. There he said that Putin was pressured to invade Ukraine. Pressured by his own supporters in Moscow.
Of course, there is uncertainty as to whether Italy will continue its support for Ukraine in the same way as in the past. However, there is nothing to suggest a dramatic change in course. If Silvio Berlusconi had been stronger, it would have looked different.
Where is the centre-left?
For the parties on the centre-left axis, the election was a huge disappointment. Italy is also a country where environmental issues are not central to the debate, as they are elsewhere in Europe. Voter turnout is low and especially young people, who like to demand parties with a clearer environmental profile, do not turn out.
Italian politics is known for great fluctuations and instability. At the next election, I expect the centre-left to find together in a different way and be able to unite around a common platform. It is most likely that environmental issues will force their way into Italy’s next election campaign. When it will be it is impossible to say, Italian politics is unpredictable.
Sources:
Giorgia Meloni: Italy’s far right on course to win election – BBC News
Italy’s parliamentary election 2022 – POLITICO