The premier Giorgia Meloni, at the end of his rally yesterday in Pescara, has announced his candidacy in all constituencies in the European elections. An expected decision, although it had not yet been officially confirmed. But the announcement was made in his classic style. After almost an hour of self-referential speech on her choices and those of the government, she asked to be voted for in the next elections on 8 and 9 June simply by writing on the ballots "only Giorgia, my first name" because "I will always be just one of you, one of the people." Thus launched the electoral campaign of Fratelli d'Italia for the European elections which is also one challenge to measure his personal consensus after his stint as government leader. A kind of referendum on herself and her government.
Meloni will therefore be the head of the Fratelli d'Italia list in all five Italian constituencies. A gesture towards Europe then? Difficult given that his candidacy remains incompatible with government duties In fact, according to European rules, the position of MEP is incompatible with that of member of the Italian government or parliament. It is therefore likely that, once elected to the European Parliament, Meloni will renounce her mandate in favor of another Fratelli d'Italia candidate who was not elected.
The prime minister invites her people to a plebiscite on her
The prime minister has, however called his people to a plebiscite on her, seeing the electoral campaign as the best way to evaluate his consensus. A perfect choice that serves as referendum on the government and his leadership.
On the ballot papers it is likely that Giorgia Meloni will be presented as "Giorgia Meloni known as Giorgia" to avoid the possibility of canceling the votes.
Meloni's candidacy is seen primarily as an opportunity for Fratelli d'Italia to attract as many votes as possible in the European elections, where preferences count, unlike in Italian general elections. But the candidacy for the European elections is also a way to maximize competition with the other female opposition leader, Elly Schlein. While the founder of FdI asks for the vote "for Giorgia", the contrast is evident given that the secretary of the PD did not obtain the support to have her name on the party symbol.
The undertaking, "difficult but not impossible", explains Meloni, is to replicate in Brussels "the Italian model" of a "majority that brings together the forces of the centre-right" to "send the left into opposition also in the EU".
Calenda thinks again and is running for the European elections
Carlo Calenda he retraces his steps and decides to run for office in all constituencies for the next European elections. Yet the Action leader was among the fiercest critics of those who decided to run in the European elections despite knowing they had no chance of being elected to the European Parliament. This change of thought, Calenda himself explains in a video, is motivated precisely by Prime Minister Meloni's entry into the field, "it is necessary to respond to this anti-European challenge by getting directly involved".
“In recent months I have repeatedly publicly urged all political leaders to sign an agreement not to run for the European elections. Schlein and Tajani have already chosen the path of direct candidacy. But the Prime Minister's entry into the field and her anti-European and sovereignist platform, they completely change the scenario. We must oppose with all means the project of «a small Italy in a small Europe of Giorgia Meloni», writes the leader of Action on
Together with his candidacy, the action leader also announced that of the former Renzian minister Elena Bonetti, also a candidate in all constituencies.
