Rome: Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party won a decisive victory in European elections in Italy, boosting her leadership at home and consolidating her kingmaker role in Europe.
“It is a resounding result,” Meloni said Monday of the gains made by her Brothers of Italy party, despite a historically low turnout of 49.6%. “Italy is going completely against the trend,” she said, noting that elsewhere in Europe governing parties had suffered in the polls. With over 99% of all votes counted, Meloni’s post-fascist party secured 28.8% of the vote – surpassing the 26% in 2022 national elections.
Meloni had pitched the European Parliament polls as a referendum on her leadership, asking voters to write “Giorgia” on their ballots. The result is a remarkable reversal from 2019 European elections, when Meloni’s then-marginal party secured just 6% of the vote.
All eyes are now on what Meloni will do with her increased influence in Brussels. She has been courted both by Ursula von der Leyen of centre-right EPP and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
“It is a resounding result,” Meloni said Monday of the gains made by her Brothers of Italy party, despite a historically low turnout of 49.6%. “Italy is going completely against the trend,” she said, noting that elsewhere in Europe governing parties had suffered in the polls. With over 99% of all votes counted, Meloni’s post-fascist party secured 28.8% of the vote – surpassing the 26% in 2022 national elections.
Meloni had pitched the European Parliament polls as a referendum on her leadership, asking voters to write “Giorgia” on their ballots. The result is a remarkable reversal from 2019 European elections, when Meloni’s then-marginal party secured just 6% of the vote.
All eyes are now on what Meloni will do with her increased influence in Brussels. She has been courted both by Ursula von der Leyen of centre-right EPP and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.