Vannacci's Breakaway Party: Shaking Italy's Political Landscape

Roberto Vannacci, a former army general, exited Italy's League group to establish his far-right party, Futuro Nazionale, which may disrupt Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's re-election chances. Vannacci, known for his controversial views, aims to draw votes from Meloni and League, despite facing criticism from League's Matteo Salvini.

Roberto Vannacci, a former army general known for his controversial stances, has departed Italy's League group to launch his own far-right political faction, Futuro Nazionale. This move might complicatedly impact Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hopes of re-election, as Vannacci seeks to capture votes from both Meloni's coalition and his former League allies.

Having risen to prominence two years ago by advocating traditional Italian values while deriding minority groups and feminists, Vannacci was once welcomed into the League by leader Matteo Salvini. Although he initially helped boost League's performance in the 2024 European elections, Vannacci chose to strike out independently, criticizing the oversaturation of moderation within right-wing politics.

Pollsters predict Vannacci's new party could win up to 2% of the vote—insufficient for parliamentary entry but potentially siphoning off support from Meloni and her coalition partners. Salvini expressed disappointment, lamenting Vannacci's departure as a betrayal of trust in political loyalty. The possibility of Vannacci's candidacy presents a fresh dynamic ahead of the national election scheduled for 2027.

(With inputs from agencies.)