A far-right coalition won a surprise victory in Italy’s parliamentary election on Sunday, with Giorgia Meloni being seen as the country’s next prime minister, whose fanatical views on immigration and the protection of the “Christian family” are held by the Italian Social Movement (MSI). MSI was founded after World War II by disinterested former members of the fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini.
Meloni insists that she is not a fascist herself, even though her party’s flag includes the three-color flame symbol of the old pro-fascist party. Mussolini’s two successors are his granddaughter Rachele and his great-grandson Caio Giulio Cesare, who contested under the banner of the Brothers of Italy, led by Meloni. Meloni insists she is not a fascist herself, but says of Mussolini that “everything she did, she did for Italy.”
All this combined with a working-class background makes this politician’s successful rise a combustible mix at a time when the future of European politics itself seems bleak and uncertain as it grapples with the economic crisis. A famous quote by Leon Trotsky on the rise of fascism helps to understand what is going on. He wrote: “The fascist movement in Italy was a spontaneous movement of a large number of people, with leaders from the lower ranks. It is basically a mass movement, directed and financed by the big capitalist powers. It was the petty bourgeoisie. , descended from the slum proletariat and even to a lesser extent the proletariat masses; Mussolini, the former socialist, is a “self-made” figure that emerged from this movement.
There are three pillars of Meloni’s politics which include zero-tolerance for illegal immigration, extreme social conservatism and belligerent Euro-skepticism. The Guardian newspaper wrote: “From Italy to Sweden, Hungary to France, the right wing is once again a force to be reckoned with. Its hostility to immigrants encourages hatred of outsiders everywhere, including in India.”
In European politics, Italy has traditionally played the role of a concerned junior partner to giants such as France and Germany who help make decisions. This is almost certain to change under Meloni. The question is which path she takes. Does it follow the path of democrats like Viktor Orbán of Hungary who has sought to exert greater control, the path of Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland or the conservative Liz Truss? Or, something that’s completely different?
Whichever way he goes, it is the way to hell, because Italy is one of the richest and most influential countries in the world. It is a member of the G-7 and the third largest economy in the European Union (EU) and a NATO power. So Sunday’s voting results were seen as shocking results in European capitals and financial markets. Simply put, the Brothers of Italy does not guarantee that Rome will regain its role as a stable European partner. However, the manifesto of the forthcoming Centre-Right Coalition sought to reassure EU neighbors and NATO partners.
In fact, Meloni may initially be in trouble because Italy is the biggest beneficiary of the NextGenerationEU fund and its economic difficulties are best handled with EU help. Still, when Meloni’s coalition talks of the “national interest”, there must be a big difference. Traditionally, Italian leaders advance the national interest by becoming friends with countries with similar values and interests. Thus, pro-Europeanism and Atlanticism became the undisputed principles of Italian policy.
But when Meloni uses the term “national interest”, it has an entirely different meaning that is associated with the fascist idea of an ethnic concept of nationalism, glorifying the Roman Empire. Something similar is happening in India or Turkey today.
It will come as no surprise if Meloni replaces the European Commission bureaucrats and cuts down on the EU’s. He recently openly said, “It will happen that the gravy train means that the situation of earning maximum income with less effort will end.” She doesn’t just think that Brussels is useless, but the enemy as well. Referring to the EU’s efforts to punish Poland and Hungary for shifting democratic values, he said, “We are calling for the most powerful and violent attacks against sovereign country governments that oppose the dictatorship of politically correct ideology.” are facing.”
It is worth noting that Meloni is not alone on this path. In addition to being close to Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orbán, she is also the chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a party across Europe that includes the ruling Law and Justice Party of Poland, as well as the rapidly emerging countries of Spain and Sweden. Influential parties are involved. Meloni may have ways to strike a balance and influence the allocation of top jobs in the European Parliament in 2024. In these ways, it could be that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is given a second term.
In short, Italy may no longer be a country that obeys France and Germany, but Meloni may have a gang of his own with a conservative, authoritarian personality. Of course, this would mean weakening relations with presidents such as Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron. Meloni’s vision for America is in the direction of the Trumpian Right.
The big question is, on which side is the new government of Italy on the question of Ukraine. The Brothers of Italy has been critical of Russian military action in Ukraine. But its coalition partner Lega Party maintains strong ties with Moscow and Meloni will rely heavily on its support. Lega Party leader Matteo Salvini has called for a reconsideration of EU sanctions against Russia. Salvini has the support of a large number of voters from the traders. The group has expressed fears that Italy’s economy could be hit hard by the consequences of Western sanctions against Russia.
In addition, Meloni will also have to adjust to one of his coalition partners, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is still a key figure in Italian politics and a close friend of President Putin. Berlusconi’s support of the right-wing coalition is essential to ensure that it has a majority of seats and thus the controversial ex-prime minister can still exert significant influence. Meloni’s party has no experience in government, so he would need full support from Berlusconi and Salvini. Thus Italy’s support for Ukraine in this new structure could be weakened.
What often goes unnoticed is that Moscow has historically had extensive personal ties with Italian politicians. Back in the 1960s, Italy was home to the largest Communist Party in Europe. Like in Germany, governments of all strata in Rome continued to promote economic and energy ties with Russia. The change in Italian politics from such a point of view is structural, akin to a slow-motion to full-blown war in Ukraine. It comes amid an uproar as the EU itself is seriously rethinking what foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s recent remarks on “diplomatic efforts” suggest.
Elections in Italy in the past have often led to similar trends in Europe. The rise of Mussolini preceded the rise of the Nazis in Germany in the 1920s. In a dramatic change, right-wing nationalists won a victory in Sweden. The risks for Europe may not be Giorgia Meloni itself, but it remains to be seen how their influence spreads. As one veteran German commentator put it, this is also where “the biggest danger is that the EU tries to corner her or isolate her and she will oppose it with the Italian electorate on her side.” ”
MK Bhadrakumar is a former diplomat. He was the Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan and Turkey. these thoughts are personal,