Meloni proclaims 'hour of the patriots has arrived' in address to Vox

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
14 Jul 2023 18:15

The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urges the right-wing of Spain to unite and confide in voters as the future of Europe counts on it.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, speaks during a rally in Duomo square ahead of the Sept. 25 snap election, in Milan, Italy, September 11, 2022 (AFP)

The success of the Vox party, a Spanish far-right political party, in the upcoming election in Spain on July 23 would usher in “a change in the politics of Europe” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday during a televised appearance at a Vox rally in Valencia.

“It is crucial that a conservative, patriotic alternative be established,” Meloni said. “Europe needs to become aware of its role and influence again to be a political giant instead of a bureaucratic one.”

Meloni spoke at length and addressed a multitude of topics, including immigration, the role of Italy in Europe, and Italy's stance on Ukraine.

Meloni explained that despite attempts to "isolate" her and her party, the Prime Minister succeeded in strengthening Italy's position in Europe by taking a firm stance in support of Ukraine and placing itself as an alternative gas hub amid a deepening energy crisis across the bloc. Meloni reaffirmed her statements by announcing that “Now we are preparing to chair the G7 in 2024."

As for the topic of immigration, Meloni was straight to the point and stressed that “The model of open borders and massive immigration that has been told to us is a fairy tale,” adding that “We [Europpeans] cannot think of welcoming all the economic migrants that come to our shores: They must be repatriated.”

Meloni also urged Vox supporters to trust voters “who are much smarter than some think,” while pointing toward Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, where similar-minded parties retain power.

Meloni proclaimed that “The hour of the patriots has arrived.”

The center-right Popular Party of Spain is anticipated to take the highest number of votes in the forthcoming elections, but it is also anticipated that the party will fail to secure a majority.

As such, a coalition government will be most likely, in which Vox would be the most probable coalition partner. This meant that the expected coalition could become Spain's first far-right administration in 50 years.

After heavy loss, Spanish PM calls for snap elections

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for a surprise July 23 snap election earlier on May 28, shortly after left-wing ruling Socialist Workers' Party PSOE suffered a heavy loss in Sunday's regional and local elections against its conservative rival, People’s Party (PP).

The PP led the race with 7.43 million votes, surpassing the socialist party by almost 3.4 percentage points. The results were widely viewed as a rehearsal for a general election scheduled at the end of the year.

Spaniards across the country voted for mayors in 8,131 municipalities, while also electing leaders and assemblies in 12 of Spain's 17 regions.

The PSOE was only able to secure three regions it used to govern, as per Europa Press agency.

Sanchez announced in a televised speech that he had notified King Felipe VI of his intention to dissolve parliament and "call a general election" on July 23.

"I have taken this decision in light of the results of yesterday's elections," he said.

"As the head of the government and of the Socialist party, I take responsibility for the results and I think it is necessary to respond and submit our democratic mandate to the popular will," he added.

Sanchez has faced numerous challenges since taking office in 2018: voter dissatisfaction with his left-wing administration, skyrocketing inflation, and dwindling buying power in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy.

He has had to deal with the impact of periodic squabbles between the Socialists and their hard-left coalition partner Podemos.

The PP secured just over seven million votes (31.52 percent) in the municipal elections, in comparison with nearly 6.3 million for the Socialists (28.11 percent).

The numbers represent a big setback for Sanchez, whose Socialist party leads the eurozone's fourth-largest economy in partnership with the far-left Podemos party.

"We have won a clear victory and Spain has taken the first steps towards a new political era," said the opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, head of the right-wing Popular Party (PP) in a victory speech early on Monday.

However, the PP will be able to rule in numerous regions only with the help of the far-right Vox, which was also a winner in Sunday's polls, posing a big dilemma for Feijoo.

Vox, the third-largest party in parliament, aspires to be a vital partner for the PP, both regionally and, ultimately, nationally.

Recognizing that conquering the center is critical to winning the general election, Feijoo has attempted to modify the PP's position while keeping Vox at bay.

In Madrid, the PP was enjoying a double victory, with its hardline regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso securing an absolute majority, which means she will no longer have to rely on Vox for support.