Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a significant announcement on Sunday, revealing her candidacy for the upcoming European elections in June. Her decision aims to bolster support for her Brothers of Italy party, although she clarified that she would not assume a seat if elected.
The European Parliament vote, scheduled for June 6-9, holds substantial importance as it serves as a litmus test for the strength of her 18-month-old right-wing coalition.
Addressing enthusiastic party supporters at a conference in the coastal city of Pescara, where EU policies were outlined and the campaign launched, Meloni expressed her aspirations, stating, “We want to do in Europe what we did in Italy… create a majority that brings together the center-right forces and send the left into opposition.”
While Meloni’s party has historical ties to Benito Mussolini’s Fascist group and initially advocated for Italy’s exit from the eurozone, her approach has shifted since assuming office. Notably, she has adopted a broadly pro-European stance, particularly evident in her handling of foreign policy matters concerning Ukraine and the Middle East.
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Recent polls indicate that Meloni’s party commands the highest level of support in Italy, with 27%, surpassing the opposition Democratic Party (PD) at around 20% and the left-leaning 5-Star Movement at 16%.
Meloni’s name will lead the Brothers of Italy ballot in all five of Italy’s constituencies for the EU election. However, she pledged not to utilize any of her time as prime minister for campaigning purposes.
In parallel, PD leader Elly Schlein and Antonio Tajani, head of the centrist Forza Italia party within the ruling coalition, have also thrown their hats into the ring. Their candidacies target voters who may be swayed by recognizable party leaders’ names on the ballot.
Should Meloni, Schlein, and Tajani secure seats, it is anticipated that they will relinquish them, paving the way for runner-up candidates to assume office.
