The League prevents Meloni from dreaming of an alliance with the popular Europeans

When Giorgia Meloni became Prime Minister, many in Italy and abroad feared that she would follow the path of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, known for his critical attitude towards the European Union and his ambiguous attitude towards Russia. However, Meloni proved to be a firm Atlanticist and very pragmatic in relations with Brussels, where he dreams of winning an important role. The leader of the far-right party Brothers of Italy (HdI) aims for the European elections in 2024 and dreams of being the promoter of an alliance between European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), formation whose president is a European People’s Party (EPP)the majority group in the European Parliament together with the Socialists.

Meloni managed to establish excellent relations not only with Robert Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, but also with other important members of the EPP. Both Brussels and Washington seem to think that, when it comes to foreign policy, Meloni is moving in the direction traced by his predecessor Mario Draghi, a convinced supporter of the Ukrainian cause and NATO. In February, the White House made it known that Biden hoped to welcome Meloni to Washington, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly praised her last Wednesday, thanking her for her principles, determination and “true European strength.”

According to the Italian press, the center-right German party CDU (one of the most important and influential forces in the EPP) could consider a possible convergence with Meloni, albeit with a few Conditionssuch as full respect for the rule of law and continued support for Ukraine.

But there are several obstacles on the way. The CDU does not appreciate the strong relationship Meloni has with the Polish prime minister, an ultra-nationalist Mateusz Morawiecki, increasingly critical of the EU and whose PiS party is also part of the European Conservatives. He also does not appreciate the positions of Meloni’s main ally in Italy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Infrastructure. Matteo Salvinialso the leader of the far-right League party.

No one in Brussels has forgotten the photo Salvini took in 2017 in Moscow’s Red Square wearing t-shirt with Putin’s face, nor that he supported far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in last year’s presidential elections in France. In addition, the League continues to show a certain coldness towards Ukraine. A few weeks ago, one of your senators said that you have to be careful not to “ship.” [a Kiev] the kind of weapon that risks drawing the Atlantic alliance into direct conflict with Russia.”

In fact, the relations between Meloni and Salvini were quite tense lately, and not only in matters of foreign policy. The government has to appoint new leaders of several state-owned companies, and the fact that the prime minister wants to impose managers she trusts in the most important ones does not please Salvini, who would like to propose several candidates.