Italy: the far right spreads its differences three weeks before the legislative elections

Far-right leaders Giorgi Meloni and Matteo Salvini at the Quirinal presidential palace in Rome on January 29, 2021. AP - Andrew Medichini

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In Italy, three weeks before the early legislative elections, the electoral campaign has entered the heart of the matter.

All the polls indicate that the right-wing coalition can win hands down over the center left.

But the fundamental differences between its leaders cast doubt on its ability to govern the country the day after the election.

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With our correspondent in Rome,

Particularly marked differences between the two far-right parties Fratelli d'Italia of Giorgia Meloni and

.

They are nationalists, sovereignists, hostile to immigration and notoriously eurosceptic.

They are part of the same right-wing coalition, with Berlusconi's small centrist party.

But in this electoral campaign, the two political leaders accumulate contradictions. 

Meloni is an Atlanticist, in favor of sending arms to Ukraine and does not want to question

against Russia.

Salvini was a fan of Putin and he considers ineffective these sanctions which he accuses of being responsible for the impoverishment of Italian companies and citizens.

He also disputes arms shipments to the Ukrainians. 

In the economy, far-right allies are no more in unison.

Meloni wants adjustments to the European recovery plan, but subscribes to the commitments made by the resigning government of Mario Draghi.

Salvini considers this plan completely overwhelmed by inflation.

And wants to revive the country by further widening the budget deficit. 

If they win these elections, it is hard to see how they will govern together. 

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• Italy

• Matteo Salvini