Giorgia Meloni, a far right leader, has declared victory in the Italian election and is on track to become the nation’s first female prime minister.
The most right-wing government in Italy since World War Two is anticipated to be formed by Ms. Meloni.
Given that Italy is the third-largest economy in the EU, this will worry much of Europe.
Speaking after the vote, Ms. Meloni assured the public that her Brothers of Italy party will “govern for everyone” and not betray their confidence.
Holding up a poster that read “Thank you Italy,” she told reporters in Rome that “Italians have sent a clear message in favor of a right-wing administration led by Brothers of Italy.”
She is predicted to win up to 26% of the vote, based on provisional results, ahead of her closest rival Enrico Letta from the center left.
Ms Meloni’s right-wing alliance – which also includes Matteo Salvini’s far-right League and former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia – now looks to have control of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with around 44% of the vote.
Her own party’s dramatic success in the vote disguised the fact that her allies performed poorly, with Mr. Salvini’s party slipping below 9%, and Forza Italia even lower. Four years ago, Brothers of Italy won little more than 4% of the vote but this time benefited from staying out of the national unity government that collapsed in July.
The decision on who becomes Italy’s next leader is up to the president, Sergio Mattarella, and that will take time.
The president, Sergio Mattarella, will have some time to decide who will be Italy’s next leader.
Despite her efforts to soften her image by highlighting her support for Ukraine and tempering anti-EU sentiments, Giorgia Meloni heads a party with roots in a post-war movement that emerged from fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
“Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology… no to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders, no to mass migration… no to big international finance… no to the bureaucrats of Brussels,” she proclaimed in a raucous speech to Spain’s far-right Vox party earlier this year.
