A new far-right movement in Italy is maintaining significant momentum, according to a public opinion poll released on Friday. The party is drawing support away from the ruling coalition, complicating Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni‘s chances of re-election next year.
The “Futuro Nazionale” party, founded in February by former army general Roberto Vannacci after his departure from the ruling coalition party “Lega”, is currently the fifth most popular party in Italy, according to the polling agency YouTrend.
Its support stands at 7.6%, more than one percentage point higher than on July 3. “Futuro Nazionale” has long surpassed “Lega” and is now closing in on “Forza Italia”, the second-largest party in Meloni’s coalition.
Growth in support and impact on the coalition
“The gap is now very small. Initially, it was over four percentage points, but now it has practically disappeared,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of YouTrend. Meloni’s party, “Fratelli d’Italia”, remains the most popular with 26.4% support, although its numbers have slightly declined in recent weeks.
A report by the polling agency Ipsos this month showed that Vannacci is attracting voters from “Lega” and “Fratelli d’Italia”, as well as those who did not vote in the 2024 European elections. Vannacci advocates for a hard-right populist platform, supporting “remigration” — the expulsion of immigrants and their descendants to their countries of origin — and promises to protect traditional family values.
Possible alliance and voter positions
It remains unclear whether his party will form an alliance with Meloni‘s bloc before the next elections, as this option has so far received a lukewarm response from coalition leaders. The center-left opposition is currently slightly ahead of Meloni‘s bloc: the average polling figure last week was 44.3% for the opposition versus 42.2% for the ruling coalition.
This situation could change if Vannacci joins the center-right alliance. According to YouTrend, nearly two-thirds of Vannacci‘s voters would support an electoral pact with the center-right, and most “Fratelli d’Italia” supporters would also welcome it. However, voters from “Lega” and “Forza Italia” would oppose such a union.
Source: The Straits Times
