Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to solidify her power after winning the vote in Italy for the European Parliament as far-right parties gained across the union.
Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party was on course to be the winner, according to a poll by Swg, published by La7, with the party expected to gain 27% to 31% compared to just over 6% in 2019.
According to the poll, the immediate runner-up was the left-wing Democratic Party, getting 21.5% to 25.5% of the vote, highlighting polarization between Italy’s two main political parties.
Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, founded by the late Silvio Berlusconi, both coalition partners in Meloni’s government, were projected to gain just under 10%.
Meloni’s projected victory is part of a slew of positive results for right-wing parties in Europe, led by France and Germany. Her position will be key in deciding vital alliances in the European Parliament — and selecting the successor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is running to retain her job.
Sunday night’s victory for Meloni is a significant vote of mid-term confidence from Italians, who rocketed her party to first place in the 2022 election with 26% of votes. In a bid to get more votes and have Italians rally around her persona, Meloni decided to top her party’s lists in the election even if she has no intention of leaving her job in Rome, telling them to simply vote for “Giorgia.”