Meloni slams Vannacci: You’re playing into Schlein and Conte’s hands

The sharp rebuke came during parliamentary communications ahead of next week’s G7 summit in Évian and subsequent European Council meeting in Brussels, according to Il Giornale. While Meloni never mentioned Vannacci by name, the target of her criticism was unmistakable, marking the first direct confrontation from the prime minister or any major figure in the ruling coalition since the general left the League party four months ago to form his own group, Futuro Nazionale.

Responding to remarks from Emanuele Pozzolo, a deputy who defected to join Vannacci, Meloni pointedly challenged the loyalty credentials of the breakaway faction. She noted that those now in Futuro Nazionale were elected on a center-right platform but have since voted against government confidence measures six times, aligning themselves with opposition leaders Elly Schlein, Giuseppe Conte, and Matteo Renzi.

The prime minister made clear that voting against government confidence effectively means voting to bring down that government, and concluded by rejecting any claims to represent the authentic right wing. Her message was blunt: the true right never functions as a tool for the left.

Strategic Shift After Months of Caution

The confrontation represents a dramatic departure from the cautious approach the ruling coalition had maintained since Vannacci’s departure from the League. That strategy of avoiding friction with Futuro Nazionale has failed to contain the general’s political momentum, as Il Giornale reports. Polling data continues to show Futuro Nazionale gaining ground, raising serious concerns at Palazzo Chigi that the faction could potentially overtake the League in coming months.

The escalation appears calculated not only to challenge Vannacci directly but also to send a clear signal to center-right voters that supporting the general damages the broader coalition. Some observers have drawn parallels to the strategy employed by Friedrich Merz and Germany’s Christian Democratic Union in dealing with the Alternative for Germany party.

This confrontation also serves as a political test, with government strategists keen to gauge how polling numbers respond to open conflict on the right, particularly among voters who currently support Brothers of Italy and the League. With national elections still years away, the possibility remains that Futuro Nazionale could eventually rejoin a Meloni-led coalition, though such a scenario would create complications with Forza Italia and more moderate voters within the alliance.

Meloni Targets Brussels Bureaucracy

Beyond domestic political tensions, Meloni used her parliamentary appearance to sharpen criticism of European Union bureaucrats, whom she accused of operating without accountability and losing touch with reality. She charged that unelected officials routinely overturn decisions made by the European Council, where each of the twenty-seven member governments acts with parliamentary backing and popular mandates.

The prime minister specifically cited the emissions trading system as an example, noting that the Council had clearly indicated the need for concrete action to reduce costs, only to see that direction undermined by bureaucratic interpretation.

Call for Unified EU Envoy on Ukraine

Addressing the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Meloni criticized what she termed inadequate and fragmentary diplomatic formats, an apparent reference to recent trilateral talks involving France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. She argued for the appointment of an authoritative figure who would carry the trust and mandate of all EU member states to represent European interests at any negotiating table with Moscow.

Tension With Israeli Minister Continues

The prime minister also returned to recent controversy surrounding statements from Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, an ultranationalist and Jewish supremacist figure in Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government. Meloni reiterated Italy’s position on the matter, though the source article’s coverage of this topic was incomplete.

With information from Il Giornale