And now ? Giorgia Meloni emerges clearly victorious from the elections general in Italy according to the first results, which still need to be refined. “We will govern for all Italians“, assured the one who intends to become Prime Minister. Her party post-facist Fratelli d’Italia thus multiplied its 2018 score by at least five times, to reach 26% of the vote. Giorgia Meloni could therefore become the first female head of government in Italy and, above all, the most right-wing since the creation of the Republic in 1946. But if she has experienced a meteoric rise, will she be able to govern alone?
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Because, in total, his coalition with the League, the far-right party of Matteo Salvini credited with 8%, and the Forza Italia party of the eternal Silvio Berlusconi (8.2%) could total around 43% of the vote, according to partial results. Based on these figures, the right-wing alliance would obtain an absolute majority in both chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. She will have free rein to govern, but it remains very fragile. Matteo Salvini seems to be collapsing – at this point it was not expected – and Silvio Berlusconi has failed to hold on.
Next meeting on October 13
Still, this defeat of his allies reinforces a very marked victory on the right. If Giorgia Meloni is appointed President of the Council, she will be the most right-wing European woman in power in history. After Sweden, the extreme right is therefore making a new breakthrough in Europe, where for the first time since 1945 a post-fascist party finds itself at the gates of power.
And in Italy, it is estimated that the country could suffer from this image. “We will do this with the aim of uniting the people,” , assured the leader of the Fratelli d’Italia party who tries to reassure in the face of concerns, in a speech of unity and appeasement by acknowledging that the electoral campaign had been “violent and aggressive”. On the left, neither the Democratic Party (PD), which falls below the 20% mark, nor the Anti-system movement 5 Stars failed to block the far right. PD vice-president Debora Seracchiani acknowledged the “victory for the right led by Giorgia Meloni”, what marks “a sad evening for the country”. A country whose ballot was marked by a strong absence with only 64.07% stake against 73.86% in 2018.
Unlike the French system, in Italy, everything begins. We will therefore have to wait for the next official meeting to take place on October 13, with the first convocation of the new Parliament, senators on one side, Chamber of Deputies on the other. Then place the consultations: it is at this time that the President of the Republic, Sergio Matarella, will consult the leaders of the winning parties to designate only the president of the council – that Giorgia Meloni aims to lead. In Italy, forming a government after an election takes on average more than two months.
