In Italy, former general Roberto Vanacci is founding a new far-right party, rising in the polls and creating serious headaches for Georgia Meloni.
The new far-right “Futuro Nazionale” (National Future) party of former general Roberto Vanacci is becoming a major political headache for Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni as it steadily strengthens its influence ahead of next year’s crucial elections.
From League to political challenge
Just four months after leaving Mateo Salvini’s Lega, Vanazzi claims his new movement numbers nearly 100.000 registered members, with polls giving him figures approaching 4%-5% and showing upward momentum.
Although this figure is not considered particularly high, it could prove decisive in a contested election. This development presents Meloni with a difficult dilemma: either to reach out to the new party, risking alienating its more moderate voters, or to keep its distance in the hope that its momentum will be limited.
Vanacci presents the Futuro Nazionale as an uncompromising nationalist, anti-European and philoritarian party, accusing the current government of abandoning its original right-wing positions. It argues that the government has not adequately resisted Brussels pressure, failed to curb crime and failed to implement its commitments on immigrant repatriation.
The rise of a controversial figure
The 57-year-old former paratrooper was in the spotlight in 2023, when he published a book in which he defended traditional Italian values while expressing critical views of LGBT+ people, immigrants and feminist organisations.
His positions provoked a strong reaction. Defense Minister Guido Crozeto accused Vanazzi of discrediting the Armed Forces, and he was suspended from active duty. Notably, he had served as Italy’s military attaché to Russia from 2020 to 2022.
Recognizing his popularity with conservative voters, Salvini included him in the League and backed him for election to the European Parliament in 2024. However, this partnership proved short-lived, as Vanacci chose to move autonomously, positioning himself even further to the right of his former allies.
According to political scientist Sophia Ventura, Salvini attempted to capitalize on Vanacci’s popularity, but ended up boosting a future rival. As she sees it, both the League and the Italian Brothers may be pressured to adopt more extreme positions to stem voter leakage.
Danger for the centre-right alliance
The latest SWG poll gives the Futuro Nazionale a 4.6% share, compared to 5,8% for the League, while recording a narrow lead for the centrist opposition over the ruling coalition.
Despite his electoral rise, none of the ruling parties appear willing to work directly with Vanacci. His stance is particularly embarrassing to Forza Italia of Foreign Minister Anthony Tagliani, which since the death of Silvio Berlusconi has adopted more moderate and socially liberal positions.
Vanacci himself says he does not intend to sacrifice the political “autonomy” of his movement for the sake of electoral partnerships, stressing that any deal will be done solely on his own terms.
This development worries the staff of Meloni, which in recent years has attempted to transform the Italian Brothers from a protest party into a credible governing force with strong relations with both Brussels and Washington.
At the same time, the new party has already attracted eight MPs from the ranks of the ruling coalition, while combining tough anti-European rhetoric with scepticism about Western military and economic support for Ukraine.
For now, the momentum of the Futuro Nazionale remains inextricably linked to the popularity of its founder. However, if it manages to acquire a strong party organisation, credible cadres and broader political representation, it could become a serious factor in reshuffling Italy’s political scene and one of Meloni’s most important rivals from the right.
Sources:Reuters, APM
