Italy’s Giorgia Meloni emerges stronger from EU elections
- Italy’s premier has positioned herself as one of the most powerful figures in the EU, where far-right parties made major gains
Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party won a decisive victory in European elections in Italy, unofficial results showed on Monday – making her one of the few EU leaders to emerge stronger after the vote.
“Thank you!” the Italian prime minister posted on social media alongside a photo of her making a V-for victory.
Meloni’s post-fascist Brothers of Italy party had secured 28.82 per cent of the vote Monday with 97 per cent of all votes counted – surpassing the 26 per cent she secured in September 2022 national elections.
Meloni had pitched the weekend elections for the European Parliament as a referendum on her leadership, asking voters to write “Giorgia” on their ballots.
In brief remarks to the media around 2am, Meloni said she was “extraordinarily proud” of the result, which comes just days before she hosts G7 leaders in Puglia.