Italian Prime Minister Meloni announces candidacy in EU elections
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sunday that she will run in the upcoming European Parliament elections. This is clearly a calculated move to boost her far-right party, but she will be forced to resign immediately.
Meloni's Italian Brothers party, which has neo-fascist roots, came first in Italy's 2022 general election with 26% of the vote.
Opinion polls are being conducted on a similar level ahead of the European elections to be held from June 6th to 9th.
Mr Meloni's rise to the top of the list of candidates means the Italian brothers will not be allowed to sit at EU level, despite EU rules stating that winners who already hold ministerial positions must immediately resign from the EU parliament. There is a possibility that it will take advantage of its national popularity.
“We want to do exactly the same thing in Europe as we did in Italy on September 25, 2022, by mobilizing the power of the right to create a majority and ultimately turning the left into an opposition party in Europe as well. Send them to the United States!'' Meloni said at a party event in the Adriatic city of Pescara.
In a fierce and comprehensive speech that touched briefly on issues ranging from surrogacy and Ramadan to artificial meat, Meloni praised the coalition's 18 months in power, fighting illegal immigration and protecting families. He praised the coalition government's efforts to protect Christians. values.
After speaking for more than an hour in a combative tone reminiscent of campaigning, Meloni said he had decided to run for the European Parliament.
“I'm doing it because I want to ask Italians if they're happy with the work we're doing in Italy and the work we're doing in Europe,” she said, adding that she was the one who could unite European conservatives. He suggested that only.
“I am doing this because, in addition to being the president of the Italian Brothers, I am a European conservative who wants to play a decisive role in changing the direction of European politics. He is also a leader,” she added.
Wolfango Piccoli, head of research at Teneo Intelligence, said Meloni's move was allowed under EU regulations but was “a pragmatic and shameless electoral calculation”.
“She feels like she's carrying her weight to get more votes,” he said, adding that polls show that if Meloni's name tops the list, Brothers of Italy's ranking He added that there is a possibility that this could improve by 2 to 3 percent.
– Voters are not aware –
Daniele Albertazzi, a political science professor at the University of Surrey, said Italian leaders “often do this just to get more votes. That's the sole purpose.”
“They rarely take seats in the European Parliament and do not want to stay out of national politics. But many have done this before.”
EU rules require newly elected MPs to ensure that they do not hold other positions deemed “incompatible” with their role, such as government ministers.
If that happens, they must resign and appoint a replacement.
“Most voters are either unaware or don't care,” Piccoli said.
“The important thing is to vote for that person, whether or not they keep their job.”
The tactic was used in 2019 by Meloni's deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, who leads the far-right Lega party.
EU parliamentary elections do not stipulate collaboration within Italy's political parties, leaving the Italian Brothers in direct competition with coalition partners Lega and Forza Italia, founded by Silvio Berlusconi.
Opinion polls for Lega and Forza Italia are far behind Meloni's party, with around 7% and 8% respectively.
Source: guardian.ng