Italians will elect mayors and city councilors in about 1,000 towns and cities, including Genoa, Palermo, Verona, Parma and a number of provincial capitals, in a vote that will test the strength of political parties ahead of its national elections. next year. Melloni seeks confirmation of leadership in right-wing alliance, including Matteo Salvini’s far-right Lega and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, ready to run in the 2023 ballot. If she wins, she could be the first Female Prime Minister of Italy. In the days leading up to the local elections, which are being held in two rounds, Melloni traveled to Viterbo, in the Lazio region, to end the campaign of the candidate for mayor of Italy, the Laura Allegrini. The medieval walled city is symbolic of the party: it is where Giorgio Almirande, founder of the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI), closed his election campaigns and where Melloni was elected chairman of the National Alliance’s youth wing. MSI before being transformed into the Brothers of Italy in 2004. The 45-year-old’s speech in the crowd of about 1,000 people in Piazza del Comune began with the defense of women. “We are the party against the pink quotas, but we are the only ones with the courage to put women at the forefront,” she said, before reiterating her tough stance on immigration from Africa and the adoption of children by same-sex couples. beats. against the left and the government led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank. Those who came together to see her were a combination of young, old, ardent supporters of the Brothers of Italy and those who admire Meloni but weigh their choices, for Sunday’s vote and for the long term. “Politics in Italy is broken, a lot of discussions, but the results are the same,” Rita said. “But Meloni has good ideas and is consistent in what she says. “Now we have to see what he can do.” Enza Calisti, who waved the Brothers of Italy flag, had no doubt: “She is the only one who knows how to do politics and she is the most honest.” Simona Mengoni said she admired Meloni for her courage. “She is not afraid to fight for what she believes. “I also like Salvini, but I want Meloni to be prime minister.” Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini in January. Photo: Fabio Cimaglia / Sintesi / Sipa / Rex / Shutterstock Umberto Garbini, 28, had traveled in the rally from the nearby town of Orvieto in Umbria, where he is a consultant to the Brothers of Italy. “The party invests in young people and welcomes those who have new ideas that can bring added value. “These elections are important as the results will be a mirror of what could happen next year.” Meloni’s growing influence has sparked fierce competition from her ally Salvini, whose Lega party, part of Draghi’s broad alliance, is steadily declining in opinion polls. The couple tried to appear united front at a gathering in Verona, where their parties run together, on Thursday night. “I guarantee this is not the end of Romeo and Juliet,” said Meloni. Their warm embrace came a few days after Salvini, fearing that the Brothers of Italy were gaining ground in the northern lands of the Lega, accused Meloni of splitting the alliance by choosing to be alone in several municipalities. Francesco Giubilei, author of Giorgia Meloni: The Revolution of the Conservatives, said: “These are just local elections, but they are important for many reasons. They are the main political event before the national elections, and many key cities and towns are involved. “If the Brothers of Italy proves their support in the polls, it will have more weight in the coalition, even more so if it wins in the places where it participates alone.” Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The Brothers of Italy was the only party left out of Draghi’s government, a position that Melloni used to her advantage, while at the same time having a constructive dialogue with the Prime Minister in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He is in favor of NATO and supports the shipment of weapons from Italy to the war-torn country – unlike the League – and increased defense spending. As for the left, the Democratic Party is slightly behind the Brothers of Italy in the polls, but is divided over forming coalitions with the declining Five Star Movement. However, the party is “the pillar of the system”, according to Mattia Diletti, a professor of politics at Sapienza University in Rome, and although Meloni’s star is rising, a large portion of Italian voters will hope for another broad alliance after the next general elections, whether under Draghi or not. “Because of the international and economic situation, no one wants a big change,” Diletti said.
