Tensions are growing in the Italian government coalition

Tensions continue to rise between Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister and leader of an ultra-nationalist party Brothers of Italy (HdI)and Matteo Salvini, the leader of the coalition partner League (extreme right) and the Minister of Transport of the center-right government that has been at the head of that transalpine country since the fall of 2022. The causes of the tension are multiple, but deep down lies the competition that the two parties hold for the same voters, some of whom have been in the past regional and municipal elections left the League in favor of HdI.

In recent days, two LoI barons have been embroiled in scandal, and the League has done little to defend them. The first is business woman and Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè. High society and Meloni promoters in northern Italy accused her of irresponsible management of two companies, as well as false accounting and bankruptcy. The other is one of the pillars of HdI and the current president of the Senate, Ignazio LaRusso. Her 19-year-old son, Leonardo Apache La Russo, was accused of rape by a 22-year-old girl.. The news caused a strong controversy and became a political case in Italy.

lack of solidarity

By the way, when scandals like this happen, the Italian right-wing parties are very supportive of each other. Not this time. Harsh criticisms of sources from the MUP were leaked to the newspapers. A leading member of the liberal Forza Italia spoke of “attitudes outside the Constitution” by some prosecutors; but the League looked peaceful, which I didn’t like.

The reform prepared by the Minister of Justice, former prosecutor Carlo Nordio, was the target of Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire leader of Forza Italia who died in June. If the parliament approves it, it will be a posthumous victory for Berlusconi.

Salvini does not like the growing closeness of Meloni and Forza Italia, currently led by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, a Catholic and pro-European. The League fears that the two parties aim to marginalize it, which is why it is seeking a reform of the territorial model, the so-called differentiated autonomy, which would give new powers to the regions where the League is strongest.

“If there is differentiated autonomy, it will be a triumph for Salvini”, explains the deputy from Forza Italia to La Voz. “The tensions between the League and HdI are caused by the different goals of their leaders. Salvini wants to restore leadership on the right and therefore sometimes plays moderate; Meloni wants to consolidate HdI as a conservative but pragmatic party, more akin to Feijoo’s PP than extreme right-wing forces.

“If there is differentiated autonomy, it will be a triumph for Salvini”, explains the deputy from Forza Italia to La Voz. “Tensions between the League and HdI are caused by the different goals of their leaders. Salvini wants to restore leadership on the right and therefore sometimes plays moderate; Meloni wants to consolidate HdI as a conservative but pragmatic party, more akin to Feijoo’s PP than extreme right-wing forces.

Both are also planning European elections next year, according to Italian media Berlusconi’s death triggered a contest to win over part of Forza Italia’s historic voters.