Brothers of Italy, right-wing coalition on-track to win elections

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Sep 2022 08:45
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Following the win of the center-right coalition led by Giorgia Meloni in the parliamentary election, the Italian Democratic Party announces its transition to the opposition.

Leader of Brothers of Italy Giorgia Meloni (Reuters)

Deputy head of the Italian Democratic Party Debora Serracchiani recognized on Monday the victory of the center-right forces led by the leader of the Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, in the parliamentary elections that were held on Sunday.

"Undoubtedly, in the light of the evidence, we cannot but award victory to the right-wing forces that Giorgia Meloni pulled out. This is a sad evening for the country," Serracchiani expressed at a press conference.

In this regard, Serracchiani announced the transition of the Democratic Party to the opposition.

"We are the country's second political force and the first opposition force," she added, promising that the Democrats would play the role of the opposition and realize their responsibility, "including in the face of Europe."

Later, the leader of the Five Star Movement party, Giuseppe Conte, pointed out that his party will act as an opposition in the future parliament.

"The perspective we have to face is that the Movement will play an opposition role in the next legislature. I would like to assure all the citizens who voted for us that we will be an opposition force that will show courage and determination and will be focused on fulfilling the program that we put forward during the election campaign," Conte indicated.

"We must prove our worth": Meloni

At an early Monday gathering, Meloni, who is set to take over from Prime Minister Mario Draghi, told supporters of the Brothers of Italy party that "We must remember that we are not at the end point, we are at the starting point. It is from tomorrow that we must prove our worth."

"If we are called on to govern this nation we will do it for all the Italians, with the aim of uniting the people and focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us," the 45-year-old said. "This is a time for being responsible."

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party demonstrated its "Italians First" nationalist agenda that vows to end mass migration into the country as a key aspect of its campaign.

According to the Italian Interior Ministry, the center-right coalition which unites the Brothers of Italy party, the League party, the Forza Italia party, and the Moderate Party won 43.9% after counting half of the votes in the elections to the upper house of the Italian parliament - the Senate.

The ministry added that in the vote to the lower house of parliament - the Chamber of Deputies - the coalition received 42.7% after counting a quarter of the votes.

It is noteworthy that a coalition that takes 40% of the vote could seize as many as 60% of seats in the house of parliament, according to Italian commentators.

Brothers of Italy led with more than 26%

Results counted in more than 90% of polling stations showed that the Brothers of Italy led with more than 26%, up from just 4% in the last national election in 2018.

On the other hand, the Brother's major allies the League and Forza Italia parties picked up around 9% and 8% of the vote respectively.

But Meloni's alliance consists of members that have opposing views on several issues such as anti-Russia sanctions and how to deal with surging energy bills.

On the other hand, the center-left Democratic Party picked up some 19%, the left-leaning Five Star Movement around 15%, and the centrist "Action" group just over 7%.

It is noteworthy that the voter turnout was just 64% against 73% four years ago.

Now, the center-right coalition will be in charge of a country that suffers from uncontrolled inflation and a coming winter energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine.

The third largest economy in the eurozone recovered after the Covid-19 pandemic but is burdened with a debt worth 150% of gross domestic product.

In this regard, Sarah Carlson, senior vice president of Moody's credit ratings agency, pointed out that the next Italian government will have to manage a debt burden "that is vulnerable to negative growth, funding cost, and inflation developments."