ROME: Italy’s far-right National Future party said Saturday it has doubled the number of members of parliament it has to eight, after four switched alliances ahead of next year’s general election.
“Whilst some people wrote us off as a flash in the pan, National Future continues to grow,” it said on social media. National Future (FN) was set up in February by retired general Roberto Vannacci, who is challenging Italy’s hard-right government on its own turf and complicating Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hopes of re-election.
Vannacci highlights Italy’s Roman-Christian roots, while disparaging migrants, feminists and LGBTQ+ people.
Opinion polls this week put the new “National Future” at around 4.5 percent support, most of it taken from the anti-immigrant League party that is led by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Meloni’s party remains the most popular, polling at around 28 percent support, but FN’s support has been steadily growing, and it is looking to close the gap with the League, which is polling around six percent support. FN could play a significant role in the 2027 elections, splitting the right-wing vote.
