ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday announced her candidacy for the upcoming European Parliament elections during a party event in Pescara on Sunday. Her decision, aimed at leveraging her party’s popularity at the EU level, entails an immediate resignation from her position as prime minister, in accordance with EU regulations.
Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy, emerged victorious in Italy’s 2022 general election, securing 26 percent of the vote. With similar polling levels anticipated for the European elections scheduled from June 6-9, Meloni aims to replicate her party’s success on a broader scale.
During her address, Meloni emphasized her coalition government’s accomplishments over the past one-and-a-half years, focusing on issues such as combatting illegal immigration, safeguarding families, and upholding Christian values. In a rallying call reminiscent of her election campaigns, she expressed her intention to unite Europe’s conservatives and reshape the continent’s political landscape.
While Meloni’s candidacy is permitted under EU regulations, it is viewed by some as a strategic electoral maneuver. Wolfango Piccoli, head of research at Teneo Intelligence, described it as “a pragmatic, shameless electoral calculation,” suggesting that Meloni’s name on the ballot could bolster Brothers of Italy’s performance by two to three percent.
Daniele Albertazzi, a professor of politics at the University of Surrey, noted that such moves by Italian leaders are primarily aimed at garnering additional votes, with little intention of assuming a seat in the European Parliament. EU rules mandate the resignation of MEPs holding incompatible positions, such as government ministers, upon their election.
Meloni’s decision follows a similar tactic employed by her deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right Lega party, during the 2019 EU Parliament elections. However, Meloni’s move places Brothers of Italy in direct competition with coalition partners Lega and Forza Italia, led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Despite her past criticisms of the European Union and “LGBT lobbies,” Meloni’s straight-talking approach has resonated with many voters. Encouraging supporters to simply write “Giorgia” on their ballots, she reaffirmed her commitment to ordinary people.
