The European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR), led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is expected to win 76 of 720 seats in the European Parliament’s elections, as per a poll of polls
read more
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could emerge as kingmaker in the ongoing European Parliament’s elections.
Even though the right-wing parties are not projected to win a majority in the European Parliament, they are projected to make substantial gains.
The European Parliament is the top lawmaking body of the 27-member bloc European Union (EU). As Italy has 76 of the 720 seats, Meloni could have a substantial role in propping the majority and deciding whether current EU President Ursula von der Leyen will get another term.
While Von der Leyen has expressed her disdain for pro-Russia far-right parties of Europe in Germany, France, and Hungary, she has been vocal in working with Meloni whom she has described as “clearly pro-European”.
Von der Leyen’s party, the European People’s Party (EPP), is expected to emerge as the largest party. Whether it wins a majority and whether Meloni supporters it in case there is no majority remains to be seen. As per the latest poll of the polls by Politico, the Meloni led EU bloc European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) is projected to win 76 seats.
Giorgia Meloni projects herself as Europe’s conservative leader
In the European Parliament’s elections, Meloni is also on the ballot. Her run, however, is symbolic as she will be required to resign immediately as the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in case she is elected as the rules do not allow a sitting European minister to be an MEP.
Meloni’s run is being as an attempt to boost her party, Brothers of Italy (FdL), in Italy and in Europe.
Lately, Meloni has projected herself as the conservative leader of Europe. She has said that she seeks to replicate the Italian policies across the continent.
Previously, Meloni has said that she was contesting the European Parliamentary elections as she saw herself as the leader of European conservatives and wanted to “have a decisive role in changing the course of European politics”.
“I’m doing it because I want to ask Italians if they are satisfied with the work we are doing in Italy and that we’re doing in Europe…I’m doing it because in addition to being president of Brothers of Italy I’m also the leader of the European conservatives who want to have a decisive role in changing the course of European politics,” said Meloni at a party conference in April, according to the AFP.
Meloni further said that she wants to “do in Europe exactly what we did in Italy”.
“We want to do in Europe exactly what we did in Italy on September 25, 2022 — creating a majority that brings together the forces of the right to finally send the left into opposition, even in Europe,” said Meloni.
‘Meloni a pro-Europeamn leader’
EU President Von der Leyen has described Meloni as a “pro-European” leader.
Von der Leyen’s comments carry weight at a time when several right-wing parties and leaders, some of them on the far-right of the spectrum, have been openly supportive of Russia even as Europe faces its most serious security threat from the country since the World War II.
Von der Leyen has labelled such parties as “puppets” of Putin’s. She has said she will not cooperate with French far-right leader Marine Le Pen of National Rally (RN) party and Germany’s AfD. Regarding Meloni, however, she has said, “She is clearly pro-European, against Putin, she’s been very clear on that one, and pro-rule of law, if this holds, and then we offer to work together.”
Even as Meloni is often described as a far-right leader in the press, her foreign policy is in line with the mainstream European policy. She has been supportive of the aid of Ukraine and is in sync with the situation in the Middle East crisis as well. That makes her much more acceptable for moderates than the likes of AfD, RN, or Fidesz party or Hungary’s leader Viktor Orban.