Roberto Vannacci, a former Italian general, has leveraged his notoriety to found a new far-right party, National Future, which is now polling just behind Forza Italia in Italy's coalition government. His rapid rise poses a dilemma for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who may need his support to beat the left in next year's election.
Background and Controversy
In 2023, Vannacci published a far-right tract titled The World Turned Upside Down, which attacked the "normalisation" of homosexuality and questioned the Italian identity of a black volleyball star. The book became a bestseller, and he was suspended from the military for bringing it into disrepute.
Now a member of the European parliament, Vannacci founded National Future in February, arguing that Meloni's coalition has not been extreme enough. The party advocates for pro-Putin and anti-Ukraine stances, anti-EU policies, and the expulsion of immigrants to restore Italy's "cultural homogeneity."
Political Impact
Polls show National Future just behind Forza Italia and ahead of Matteo Salvini's League, the third main component of Meloni's coalition. To beat the left, Meloni may need Vannacci's support, but aligning with him would undermine her efforts to present her Brothers of Italy party as mainstream conservative.
Vannacci's rise signals a broader radicalization of Europe's far right, with similar trends in the UK, Poland, and Germany. He has also expressed openness to funding from Moscow and Beijing, raising concerns about Russian influence.
Repercussions
The panicked reaction of leaders to the migrant crisis in Ceuta last week highlighted the far right's influence. Meloni called for action against Spain, while Vannacci amplified his calls for a Europe-wide "remigration" strategy.
In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out any alliance with the AfD. If Meloni accommodates Vannacci, it would demolish her claims to mainstream respectability.
