Practice criticized

Italy’s Meloni announces candidacy in EU elections

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni(Bild: AFP)

It is somewhat absurd: Italian head of government Giorgia Meloni has announced that she will stand as the lead candidate for her right-wing party Fratelli d'Italia in the EU parliamentary elections. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia) and opposition leader Elly Schlein (Social Democrats) are also leading the lists of their respective parties in the EU elections. These are purely "invective candidacies" - none of the party leaders has the slightest intention of going to Brussels. 

They merely hope to get more people to the polls with their candidacies. Italy's former EU Commission President Prodi sharply criticizes this practice.

"I have decided to lead FdI in all five Italian constituencies", Meloni announced at a party event in the Adriatic city of Pescara entitled "Italy changes Europe" on Sunday. "I want to ask Italian voters if they are satisfied with our work. If they are, I ask them to vote and write my name on the ballot paper," said Meloni to applause from her party's supporters.

Meloni wants to "build a center-right majority"
"I am the leader of the European Conservatives and I want them to play a decisive role in Europe. Those who vote for FdI will strengthen Italy and our government in Europe even more. I consider myself a soldier and a soldier must fight first and foremost when necessary," said the 47-year-old.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni(Bild: AFP)

Meloni expressed the hope that her candidacy would increase her party's representation in the EU Parliament. "This will enable us to provide more support for Italy's plans in Europe," explained the head of government. Her goal is to build a center-right majority in Strasbourg, following the example of Rome.

"We want to put an end to unnatural coalitions of the left and center parties. We want to bring the Italian model of a center-right coalition to Europe. That would be a revolution in European politics: the conservatives should also become strategic in Europe. Our goal is to send the left into opposition. This is a great challenge, but we can do it," explained the Italian Prime Minister.

Defended achievements of the government
Meloni defended the achievements of her government, which has been in office since October 2022, including support for Ukraine, the fight against illegal migration and the promotion of economic growth. "If today the EU is mainly talking about protecting external borders, deportations and stricter rules for NGOs, it is thanks to what Italy has done in these one and a half years with this government," explained Meloni.