Italians have rejected the EU’s centralist or federalist tendencies by voting for a right-wing bloc led by Giorgia Meloni, a Polish deputy foreign minister has said.
In the general election on Sunday, a right-wing bloc won 43 per cent of the vote, with Meloni’s Brothers of Italy getting more than 26 per cent. The centre-left bloc received 21-22 per cent.
As a result, Meloni will likely become Italy’s first woman prime minister.
The prospect of a right-wing, Eurosceptic government in Italy has fueled speculation that Poland, which is locked in several disputes with the EU, might try to forge an alliance.
In an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Pawel Jablonski expressed satisfaction with the Italians’ choice.
“They have supported a party that is strictly opposed to the European Commission abusing its powers and interfering in member states’ internal affairs, to it violating the mandate that it has been given in the (EU) Treaty,” Jablonski said.
According to Jablonski, Meloni has received a very clear mandate to implement reforms in Italy.
Commenting on potential changes in Italy’s foreign policy, Jablonski said that Meloni advocated support for Ukraine.
“It is very important to underline this to counter all sorts of false claims that have appeared,” the deputy minister said.
However, Meloni’s likely coalition partner, Matteo Salvini, had criticised EU sanctions on Russia, saying they are counter-productive and damage the Italian economy instead of hurting Moscow.
But Jablonski said that “today, Salvini’s position on this matter is not as strong as it was.”