Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy won more than 26 percent of the vote in Sunday’s general election, the largest share for any single party. Four years earlier it had taken 4 percent.
Her two coalition partners did worse. Matteo Salvini’s Lega took about 9 percent, down from more than 17 percent in the last vote, and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia scored 8 percent.
Fewer than two-thirds of Italians voted. That is a record low in a country that has historically turned out in large numbers.
Meloni played down her party’s post-fascist roots during the campaign. In her victory speech on Monday she said her party would govern for everyone and would not betray the people’s trust.
Where the allies split
Brothers of Italy and the Lega both strongly oppose irregular immigration. Meloni has called for a naval blockade of Libya to stop migrant boats reaching Italy.
On other issues the three leaders do not agree, and that could cause friction once they are in office. Meloni backs western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Salvini and Berlusconi have often voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They also differ on how to handle Italy’s soaring energy costs. That will be the most urgent item on the new government’s desk.
