Key facts
- Roberto Vannacci, a former general, has launched a new far-right party called Futuro Nazionale.
- The party is polling around 4% and has attracted nearly 100,000 paying members.
- Vannacci's platform is anti-EU and skeptical of Western support for Ukraine.
- His movement is seen as a challenge to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition, potentially forcing her to adopt more radical stances.
- Futuro Nazionale has already recruited eight lawmakers from existing coalition parties.
Roberto Vannacci, a former general, is rapidly emerging as a political challenge to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with his new far-right party, Futuro Nazionale. The party, which officially launches this weekend, has garnered nearly 100,000 paying members and is polling around 4%, potentially influencing next year's elections.
Vannacci, who previously published a controversial book and served as Italy's defense attaché in Russia, left the League party in February. He now positions Futuro Nazionale as an uncompromising nationalist movement, accusing Meloni and her allies of being too moderate and weak on issues like immigration and relations with Brussels. His anti-EU stance and skepticism towards Western support for Ukraine further differentiate him from Meloni's more Atlanticist and pro-Ukraine government.
The rise of Vannacci's party is creating a dilemma for Meloni: embracing him risks alienating moderate supporters, while shunning him could embolden him further. Political analysts suggest that Salvini, leader of the League, may be forced to adopt more radical positions to avoid being outmaneuvered by Vannacci, which could, in turn, pressure Meloni to follow suit. Futuro Nazionale has already attracted eight lawmakers from coalition parties, signaling a direct challenge to the existing political landscape.
Vannacci has stated that any potential alliance would be on his terms, emphasizing the "purity" of his movement. This stance is unsettling for Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, which has been working to present a more mainstream conservative image. Despite the discomfort, no ruling coalition parties have yet suggested an alliance, though Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has not entirely ruled out future contact.