Vannacci Launches New Party as Italy’s Ruling Coalition Bleeds Support
Italian MEP Roberto Vannacci has launched Futuro Nazionale as a nationalist party to the right of Prime Minister Meloni's government, triggering defections of eight lawmakers from the ruling coalition.
The former army general, who emerged as a prominent conservative voice following the publication of his bestselling book The World Upside Down in 2023, officially transformed his movement into a party ahead of a constituent congress scheduled for June 13-14 in Rome, according to Brussels Signal.
Roberto Vannacci left Matteo Salvini’s League in February 2026 to establish Futuro Nazionale after growing tensions with party leadership. He simultaneously broke with the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament to join the Europe of Sovereign Nations group, making his party the Italian reference point for that parliamentary alliance.
The launch has already drawn eight lawmakers from Meloni’s coalition, signaling discontent among segments of Italy’s right over what they perceive as the government’s drift toward moderation on core issues.
Mass Defections From Ruling Coalition
Seven MPs have abandoned Salvini’s League to join or align with Futuro Nazionale, including Domenico Furgiuele, Gianangelo Bof, Rossano Sasso, Laura Ravetto, Edoardo Ziello, Attilio Pierro, and Davide Bergamini. The defectors also include Emanuele Pozzolo, originally elected with Brothers of Italy, and former MEP Antonio Maria Rinaldi, a prominent Eurosceptic previously tied to the League.
The parliamentarians have justified their departure by arguing the current coalition no longer adequately represents conservative voters demanding tougher stances on migration, national identity, and relations with Brussels.
Pressure From The Right
Vannacci, a veteran of multiple international military missions, contends that both Meloni and Salvini have moderated their positions since assuming government responsibilities. By applying pressure from the right, Futuro Nazionale could compel the coalition to resist what Vannacci characterizes as a centripetal pull toward compromise.
The party platform emphasizes opposition to illegal immigration, national sovereignty, skepticism toward further European integration, defense of traditional values, and criticism of continued Western military support for Ukraine. These positions place Futuro Nazionale decidedly to the right of the governing coalition on several key policy areas.
Electoral Implications For 2027
With Italy’s next general election scheduled for 2027, political observers are closely monitoring whether Futuro Nazionale could prove decisive for the stability and future of the center-right coalition. A June SWG poll placed the new party at 4.6 percent support, making it one of the most significant emerging political forces in the country, as Brussels Signal reports.
The party’s performance in the upcoming election could determine whether Italy’s right retains power or faces fragmentation that weakens its governing majority. Vannacci’s ability to attract sitting lawmakers from established parties demonstrates his movement’s appeal among politicians and voters seeking more uncompromising nationalist policies.
The formal establishment of Futuro Nazionale represents a significant development in Italian politics, potentially reshaping the balance of power within the country’s conservative bloc and creating a new dynamic ahead of the 2027 electoral contest.
With information from Brussels Signal
