Italy far right likely to take power today
 

Italians are deciding whether to choose their most right-wing government since World War Two, in an election being followed closely across Europe.

Giorgia Meloni leads the far-right Brothers of Italy party and is aiming to become the country's first female prime minister allied with two other parties on the right.

She has softened her image and resents being linked to Italy's fascist past.

She backs Western sanctions on Russia and has toned down rhetoric on Europe.

But she still embraces an old slogan adopted by the fascists - "God, fatherland and family" - she has spoken out against the "LGBT lobby" and called for a naval blockade of Libya to halt migration.

Voting continues until 23:00 (21:00 GMT), when exit polls and projections will give an idea of who has won.

An hour south of Rome, in the town of Latina, observers believe the far right can seize the town from the left. Founded in 1932 by fascist leader Benito Mussolini, Latina still bears traces of the dictator, but has suffered from years of underfunding.

"Take a look, it's a disaster," says one passer by. The town has had a left-wing mayor in recent years, but the far right has Latina in its sights. Meloni-ally Matteo Salvini came here last week to round off his League party's campaign. Centre-right Forza Italia under ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, 85, is also part of her coalition.

"Meloni speaks to the guts of the people," says Gianluca Atlante, a journalist with local newspaper Latina Oggi. Behind him sits the imposing Palazzo Emme, built in the shape of a letter M for Mussolini. These days it serves as the local headquarters of the finance ministry's law enforcement agency.

Italy's economy was picking up after the Covid-19 pandemic, but then the energy crisis - largely triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine - sent prices soaring. While the politicians have spent recent days arguing over Russia and Europe, Italians are most worried about paying their bills.

The EU agreed to send Italy an eye-watering €200bn (£178bn) in post-Covid recovery grants and loans but that is conditional on reforms agreed by the outgoing unity government of Mario Draghi. Giorgia Meloni has called for the plan to be revised and has talked of doing more to "defend" Italy's national interests in the EU.

No wonder many of Europe's leaders are watching this vote closely.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63022408

Right Wing
Lady
A possible First for Italy.

https://womensagenda.com.au/wp-conte...esign-26-5.png
Giorgia Meloni


https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/w...rime-minister/

Italy has had enough and seeks a change

yeah, there have been quite a few reports of her party doing nazi salutes, and several of the leadership have close ties with Putin .... what could possibly go wrong :skull:

Is that actually a Nazi salute though? Or was she just gesturing? I never really trust selective photos etc

her party has previous with regard to salutes

Oh great :umm2:

Is that just nutters in the audience? Or her actual party?

she looks nice

senior figures in the party, they are out and out fascists. Be in no doubt, it's proportional representation that has made this happen

That's all just rhetoric. How are they fascists instead of standard right wingers? Did they use Nazi salutes?

look, i've told you, if you don't believe it, don't ask in the first place

Did they use nazi salutes
Yes
No no but did they use nazi salutes.

Have a coffee olly lad

You're right, I misread your post :joker: I though you were randomly calling the senior figures fascist, instead of answering the question and then saying they were :laugh:


The best way to disempower undesirable political forces is to look at why they're gaining traction, and then for the more reasonable parties to do something about whatever it is the far right parties claim they're going to fix.

Being Italy, I'm gonna guess it's something to do with the migrant crisis? It's obviously a problem faced by Med countries, and if the only people (claiming to be) willing to do something about it are the far right, then of course they'll draw votes.

It's Sunday morning,shhh :nono: :laugh:

More like centre. If you think these are far right then you haven’t seen nothing yet :devil:

She says she is Centre Right.

Had a tough up bringing
due to Mafia killings.

We find out the result
much later tonight.

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni has won Italy's election, according to exit polls, and is on course to become the country's first female prime minister.

If they are confirmed, Ms Meloni will aim to form Italy's most right-wing government since World War Two.

A Meloni-led Italy will alarm much of Europe with Russia at war in Ukraine.

She is predicted to win between 22-26% of the vote, says a Rai exit poll, ahead of her closest rival Enrico Letta from the centre left.

Several exit polls just published given her right-wing alliance a commanding lead, with 41-45% of the vote. That would give the three parties control of both elected houses of parliament.

The centre left was well behind with 25.5%-29.5%. They failed to form a viable challenge with other parties, after Italy's 18-month national unity government collapsed in July. The Five Star Movement under Giuseppe Conte is on course for third place but despite having several centre-left policies does not see eye to eye with Enrico Letta.

Turnout was a dramatically low 64.7% by the time polls closed, said Italy's interior ministry. Voting levels were especially poor in southern regions including Sicily.

The decision on who becomes Italy's next leader is up to the president, not Giorgia Meloni, and that will take time.

Although she has worked hard to soften her image, emphasising her support for Ukraine and diluting anti-EU rhetoric, she leads a party rooted in a post-war movement that rose out of Benito Mussolini's fascists.

Italy is a founding father of the European Union and a member of Nato, and Ms Meloni's rhetoric on the EU places her close to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63029909

[Meloni, 45, is set to become Italy's first
far-right premier since the end of
World War Two and the first woman
in the country to hold that office.
Her party, with neo-fascist roots,
would need to form a coalition with
her main allies,
anti-migrant League leader Mr Salvini and
Mr Berlusconi to command a solid
majority in Parliament

Italy's electoral law favours groups
that manage to create pre-ballot pacts,
giving them an outsized number of seats
by comparison with their vote tally.
Full results are expected by early Monday.]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-election.html

The Italian people are potentially having a 2022 moment.