Key facts
- Former Italian general Roberto Vannacci launched his far-right party, Futuro Nazionale.
- The party challenges Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition and EU policies.
- Vannacci's platform includes hard-line stances on migration, security, and opposition to the EU's Green Deal.
- Vannacci's movement has gained significant membership and attracted defectors from other coalition parties.
- Polls indicate Vannacci's party could secure 4% to 5% of the vote, potentially influencing election outcomes.
- Meloni has publicly criticized lawmakers aligned with Vannacci for undermining her government.
Roberto Vannacci, a former Italian army general, has launched a new far-right political party named "Futuro Nazionale," positioning himself as a significant challenger to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's conservative coalition. Vannacci, known to supporters as "Il Generale," aims to reshape Italy's right-wing political landscape with a platform centered on hard-line stances on migration and security, opposition to EU policies like the Green Deal, and criticism of sanctions against Russia.
Vannacci's political ascent began with his controversial 2023 book, "Il mondo al contrario," which attacked LGBTQ+ people, migrants, and minorities. He later joined Matteo Salvini's anti-migration League, securing over 530,000 preferences in European Parliament elections. He subsequently left the League to form Futuro Nazionale, a move Salvini described as a "betrayal."
The new party claims to have surpassed 100,000 members and has attracted eight deputies, including defectors from the League and Forza Italia, indicating growing unease within Meloni's coalition. Vannacci rejects the "far-right" label, preferring "the real right," and accuses Meloni of failing to implement shared priorities. He is currently ruling out electoral alliances.
Analysts view Vannacci's rise as a reflection of broader political and cultural shifts across Europe, where far-right and nationalist parties are gaining traction. Massimiliano Panarari, a politics professor, described Vannacci as an "entrepreneur of fear" who is carving out political space to Meloni's right, pushing themes she may find difficult to openly embrace in government. Lorenzo Pregliasco, a political analyst, noted that Vannacci introduces "opposition from the right to the current government" on popular issues like migration and culture wars.
Polls place Futuro Nazionale at around 4% to nearly 5%, a potentially decisive share in Italy's closely matched political blocs. This development introduces instability for Meloni, who faces the strategic dilemma of whether to absorb Vannacci's movement into her coalition, which could create internal problems, or maintain distance. Meloni has accused Vannacci-aligned lawmakers of undermining her government, while her party and allies have ruled out electoral agreements. Her current strategy appears to be one of ambiguity, possibly betting that Vannacci's momentum may wane.