Tired of threats and cheap blackmail, Mario Draghi finally threw in the towel this Thursday morning. But the former boss of the European Central Bank (ECB) will remain at the head of the Italian government to take care of the management of current affairs, until the early general elections which will take place on 25th September next.
The strengths of Giorgia Meloni
While Mario Draghi prepares for this new role which he would have liked to avoid for the good of the country and of Europe, because his room for maneuver, particularly on economic issues, is now narrow, the political parties are sharpening their weapons to leave in campaign. To the right, or rather to the right of the right, Giorgia Meloni, founder and patroness of the post-fascist formation “Fratelli d’Italia”, Brothers of Italy, credited with 23% in the polls, is convinced that she will soon be the first female President of the Council. Renamed “the rational face of right-wing populism” by Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s ex-strategist, this blonde woman with a particularly flowery language, who is very present on social networks, fills the rooms and seduces the press, all tendencies taken together, has several advantages in hand.
Over the past three years, she has patiently nibbled away at the electorate of the League, her main competitor. Giorgia Meloni, who describes herself as “a deeply Catholic woman, mother”, was also fishing in the electoral pool of Forza Italia, the party founded in 1994 by Silvio Berlusconi. Problem: in the event of an electoral victory, the far-right pasionaria will have to convince the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, to entrust him with the keys to power. And that is not won, given its sometimes ambiguous positions on Russia, NATO and Europe. But Giorgia Meloni counts on the support of its allies, Forza Italia and the League. Harassed by the polls, these two parties, which will now have to be accountable to their voters, in particular the small entrepreneurs who staunchly supported the government of Mario Draghi, will need visibility to play an important role and Giorgia Meloni can help them.
The Democratic Party, a credible competitor
On the other side of the fence, the situation is dramatic for the Five Star Movement (M5S) almost burnt out after having caused the crisis. On the other hand, the Democratic Party, credited with 22% of voting intentions, is a credible competitor against Giorgia Meloni. In short, the victory of the extreme right is not yet written in stone.
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