by Alessia Peretti
With the far right expected to do well in the upcoming European elections, Italian Prime Minister and Fratelli d’Italia leader Giorgia Meloni said she expected the long-standing coalition between the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) to be challenged.
Possible alliances between right-wing groups have become a focal point ahead of June’s elections, in which they are expected to do better than ever.
“Today, there is room to build a different majority in the European Parliament and for different policies,” Meloni told Rai in an interview.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who currently heads the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, appears to have softened her stance towards Meloni, moving from direct criticism of the Italian prime minister to an acknowledgement of common ground.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera on Sunday, Le Pen stated, “Now is the time to unite; it would be very beneficial. f we succeed, we can become the second-largest group in the European Parliament. e should not let this opportunity pass.”
In recent months, Meloni has been approached by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to ally with the centre-right EPP despite warnings from centre-left parties that they would not support such a move.
Meloni’s comments on Monday indicate that she prefers to form a new government coalition with all right-wing parties, signalling a leaning towards Le Pen rather than von der Leyen – though an alliance among all three appears unlikely.
On Monday, von der Leyen reiterated her willingness to work with Meloni but rejected the possibility of an alliance with Le Pen.
“The Rassemblement National is subsidised by Putin and wants to destroy Europe,” she said at the WDR Europa Forum in Berlin.
*first published in: Euractiv.com
By: N. Peter Kramer
