The Italian far-right hopes to achieve a historic victory tomorrow, Sunday, in the legislative elections, which could conclude that Georgia Meloni, leader of the "Brothers of Italy" party with fascist roots, becomes the first woman to head an unprecedented hard-right government in the country.

Polls suggest that the "Italy Brothers" will receive between 24% and 25% of the vote, compared to between 21% and 23% for the Democratic Party, and between 13% and 15% for the populist "5 Star Movement".

The leaders of the main political parties did everything they could Friday in their last attempts to attract voters during their last electoral rallies before the electoral silence that began Friday at 10 pm GMT, and continues until the polls close on Sunday.

Her ally, anti-immigration League leader Matteo Salvini, had demanded an "apology or resignation" of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after she threatened Thursday in the United States with sanctions against Italy if it violated the democratic principles of the European Union.

It is possible to rely on the latest published polls to predict the winning rates in the legislative elections, bearing in mind that the conduct of polls stops in the two weeks preceding the polls.

Abstentions may exceed 30% in this election, according to analysts, a high number for Italy.

Right-wing leaders in Italy, former Prime Minister Berlusconi mediating Salvini and Meloni (Reuters)

Between Europe and Russia

The European Union is closely following the Italian legislative elections, especially in light of the sensitive handling of the sanctions imposed on Moscow, with the possibility of differences between the European Commission and the government if it is conservative.

Rome has historically maintained friendly relations with Moscow, but has remained in solidarity with NATO since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine under Mario Draghi's government.

The third partner in the right-wing coalition, Silvio Berlusconi, sparked controversy when he said Thursday evening that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "pushed" by his people to invade Ukraine, but he returned Friday to affirm his "absolute loyalty" to NATO and the European Union.

When Berlusconi was Italy's prime minister, he treated Putin as a friend to the point that he hosted him at his Sardinian palace, and went with him to Crimea after Moscow annexed it in 2014.

Matteo Salvini, for his part, is pressing for easing the sanctions imposed on Moscow, considering them ineffective and counterproductive, but he also believes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is "unjustified".

As for Georgia Meloni, she took clear positions on supporting Ukraine, sanctions against Moscow, and supplying weapons to Kyiv.


hidden threats

In Meloni's promises of cooperation, she made veiled threats. "We want a strong, serious and respected Italy on the international stage," she said.

The coalition of the right and the extreme right promised to fulfill its European commitments, and Meloni officially backed down from her project to remove Italy from the eurozone, but fears remain, especially with the reaffirmation of its support for the Hungarian regime led by the ultra-nationalist Viktor Orban.

Meloni is calling for the renegotiation of Italy's post-pandemic recovery plan, which the European Union has allocated about 200 billion euros in funding to take into account the rise in energy costs in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

However, Italy's granting of European funding conditional on a series of reforms that the Draghi government has carefully respected to put into effect, but which currently appear to be in jeopardy.

Meloni considers, if she wins, that "the party for Europe is over" and Italy will start "defending its national interests as others do".