"Mussolini's heirs take over power": from jubilation to concern - the reactions to the Italian elections

Created: 09/26/2022, 11:30 am

By: Markus Hofstetter

Italy could be governed by a centre-right coalition in the future.

The reaction to the election result has been divided, ranging from pure joy to deep concern.

Rome - The alliance around the Fratelli d'Italia, which includes the right-wing populist and conservative parties Lega and Forza Italia of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, can count on a government majority in parliament after Sunday's election.

Right-wing extremist Giorgia Meloni, head of the Fratelli d'Italia, could become Italy's first female head of government.

It should also be enough for the alliance to have a majority in the Senate.

(You can find the ticker for current developments here.)

The reactions in the various political camps outside of Italy are correspondingly different.

Reactions to election results in Italy: AfD congratulates Meloni

“We celebrate with Italy!

Congratulations to the entire centre-right alliance,” tweeted Beatrix von Storch on Sunday night.

With reference to the right-wing election victory in Sweden, the AfD member of the Bundestag continued: "Left-wing governments are something of the past." Her party colleague Malte Kaufmann seconded, also on Twitter: "A good day for Italy – a good day for Europe."

Reactions to election results in Italy: EU was given a "lesson in humility".

French MEP Jordan Bardella from Marine Le Pen's right-wing Rassemblement National (RN) wrote on Twitter that the Italians had given the EU and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "a lesson in humility".

"No threat of any kind can stop democracy," wrote the RN party leader.

“The peoples of Europe are raising their heads and taking their destiny into their own hands.” Bardella is referring to a statement by der Leyens on Thursday (September 22).

She said that after an election victory for the right in Italy, Brussels has "tools" if EU directives are violated.

RN politician Marine Le Pen congratulated Meloni for having "resisted the anti-democratic and arrogant threats of the European Union".

"The Italian people have decided to take control of their destiny by electing a patriotic and sovereign government," she wrote on Twitter.

also read

Shift to the right in Italy: post-fascist Meloni in front - Green leader sees "close ties with the Kremlin"

Ex-oligarch warns the West: In this scenario, "Putin will be at the NATO border tomorrow"

Reactions to election results in Italy: Hope for a stabilizing influence of Forza Italia

The CDU foreign politician Jürgen Hardt, on the other hand, was concerned about Meloni's election victory.

The member of the Bundestag referred, among other things, to their "openly post-fascist statements".

"Racism and the exclusion of minorities must no longer find a place in Europe," Hardt told the German Press Agency on Monday.

In Germany and Brussels, the new Italian government will be judged on its contribution to the future of Europe, compliance with sanctions against Russia and progress in rebuilding the Italian economy.

But Hardt hopes Forza Italia has the potential to become a stabilizing force.

But he expressly excludes their boss Silvio Berlusconi.

Reactions to election results in Italy: "It's getting harder and harder"

FDP foreign politician Alexander Graf Lambsdorff expects more difficult decision-making processes at EU level, especially on the issues of migration, reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the internal market.

"It's getting more and more difficult," said Lambsdorff on Monday in the ARD morning show.

Giorgia Meloni, chairwoman of the far-right party Fratelli d'Italia, can look forward to an election victory © Oliver Weiken/dpa

But he also sees a glimmer of hope.

The reason is that Meloni has recently sounded more constructive about the sanctions against Russia than before and that alliance partner Matteo Salvini from the Lega has also clearly contradicted them.

Reactions to the election result in Italy: the outcome is "worrying"

Green leader Omid Nouripour is not so confident.

He described the outcome of the election as "worrying".

It is known that there are "very close ties with the Kremlin," especially among people within the right-wing national alliance, said Nouripour on

-Frühstart.

"That's why it's actually the case that you can't rule out that people in Moscow popped the corks last night."

Reactions to election results in Italy: "Danger for constructive cooperation in Europe"

Leading MEPs are also warning of a right-wing government in Italy.

"Giorgia Meloni will be a prime minister whose political role models are Viktor Orban and Donald Trump," said Katharina Barley (SPD), Vice-President of the European Parliament, the

.

The election victory of the alliance of right-centre parties in Italy is therefore "worrying".

Meloni's "election tactical lip service to Europe" cannot hide the fact "that it poses a threat to constructive coexistence in Europe," Barley warned.

Election in Italy: New rights and old friends - who will inherit Mario Draghi?

View photo gallery

Reactions to election results in Italy: Common values ​​of the EU at risk

For the co-leader of the European Greens, Thomas Waitz, the foundation and the common values ​​of the EU are in danger "if Italy, as the EU's third-largest economy, should be governed by a coalition of post-fascists and far-right parties".

The EU can only function if it sticks together, for example in cooperation on the energy markets, in decisions on sanctions against Russia or in dealing with the Corona crisis, said the Green politician of the

.

Meloni, on the other hand, would "rely on national solo efforts, it can become a disaster for Europe," warned the politician from Austria.

In addition, under Prime Minister Meloni, "there is a great risk that Italy will slide back into a debt crisis".

Then the entire euro area could come under pressure.

Reactions to election result in Italy: "Threat to fundamental rights"

While the RN in France is happy, the opposing camp is appalled.

"The victory of the extreme right in Italy is both a threat to fundamental rights and a risk of paralysis for Europe," tweeted former French President Francois Hollande.

"It's also a warning.

In the political confusion and with the disappearance of parties, what happens in Italy can happen in France,” continued the Socialist Party politician.

French radical left party La France Insoumise MP Clémentine Autain called the result of the Italian elections “tragic” on Twitter.

"Mussolini's heirs take power in Italy.

Neoliberal politics and the disappearance of the left made it possible.

Here we fought back.

Now we are winning the race with the Rassemblement National.”