Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party and Italy’s prime minister, made a significant speech in Pescara in the lead-up to the European elections in June. She emphasized her conservative leadership in Europe and shared her EU goals with the audience. Meloni’s call for voters to use only her first name, Giorgia, on their ballots was met with criticism from her rivals, but it aligns with her image as a leader with working-class roots and a background in Rome’s Garbatella district. She spoke about her vision for Europe, highlighting her party’s increased support since the last European elections and expressing her desire to create a majority that brings together centre-right forces and pushes the left into opposition.
Meloni’s speech at the Brothers of Italy’s conference in Pescara sheds light on her strategy to form alliances based on issues rather than ideals. ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini explained that Meloni sees the ECR and the EPP as the two main components in building a majority that unites centre-right forces. Some delegations from the ID in the right-wing camp and others from Renew Europe would then join to form the necessary numbers to vote in favor of certain measures in the European Parliament. Procaccini emphasized that the idea of a majority in the European Parliament is not fixed, and finding common ground with other political forces is still possible, leading to a potential shift towards the right in the next Parliament.
Sending the left into opposition, as mentioned by Meloni in her speech, involves giving the EPP the opportunity to break ties with the socialists and greens, according to Brothers of Italy MP Sara Kelany. The goal is to create a new political landscape that favors the centre-right forces and marginalizes the left. This strategy is based on the issues being voted on rather than pre-established deals, with the EPP, ECR, PiS, and Fidesz already finding common ground on certain matters. The balance within the European Parliament is expected to shift towards the right as more parties align on key issues, indicating a potential restructuring of political alliances in Europe.
The Brothers of Italy’s conference in Pescara was not just a launch event for Meloni’s electoral campaign but a pivotal moment in shaping the upcoming European elections. By sharing her vision for Europe and emphasizing her party’s growth and support, Meloni showcased her determination to extend her influence beyond Italy and create a united front of centre-right forces. The call for voters to refer to her by her first name, Giorgia, was a strategic move to connect with the electorate and emphasize her approachability and relatability as a leader with humble beginnings. The focus on alliances based on shared issues rather than strict ideological ideals signals a practical and flexible approach to building the necessary support to enact changes in the European Parliament.
In conclusion, Giorgia Meloni’s speech at the Brothers of Italy’s conference in Pescara reflected her ambitions to lead a united front of centre-right forces in Europe, with the goal of shifting the balance of power towards the right and pushing the left into opposition. By emphasizing the importance of forming majorities based on common issues rather than just ideologies, Meloni demonstrated a pragmatic approach to building political alliances and enacting change in the European Parliament. As the European elections draw near, Meloni’s leadership and vision for Europe will continue to shape the political landscape, both in Italy and across the continent.
