Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declares candidacy for EU election

Speaking at a party event in Pescara, Italy, Meloni declared her intent to lead the party’s lists in all constituencies, aiming to unite center-right forces and challenge the left, even within the European Union.

“We want to create a majority that brings together the center-right forces and send the left into the opposition even in the EU. It’s a difficult undertaking, but it’s possible, and we must try,” stated Prime Minister Meloni, emphasizing her party’s goal of shifting the political landscape both domestically and within the EU.

Meloni’s decision to run in the EU election appears to be a strategic move to leverage her personal popularity and bolster her party’s prospects in the European vote. While her candidacy raises questions about the potential implications for her role as prime minister, the likelihood of her taking up a seat in the European Parliament remains uncertain.

Historically, Italian leaders and prominent politicians have employed similar strategies, with former Prime Ministers Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Renzi both running as their party’s lead candidates in previous EU elections while retaining their positions in government.

Brothers of Italy, Meloni’s party, currently leads in the latest polls in Italy, with a predicted vote share of 27.2%, ahead of the center-left PD and the Five Star Movement. Meloni’s candidacy adds further momentum to what is expected to be a closely watched and hotly contested European election.

Meloni joins other notable figures, including Elly Schlein of the PD and Antonio Tajani, the current foreign minister from the conservative Forza Italia party, in the race for the European Parliament. As Italy prepares for the upcoming election, Meloni’s candidacy signals a concerted effort to shape the political landscape both domestically and at the European level.