Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has yet to comment publicly on the success of Marine Le Pen’s right-wing party in the first round of the French elections this weekend. Other Italian officials, however, have been quick to share their reactions.
Matteo Salvini, a long-time political ally of Le Pen, was the first in Italy to congratulate her. He also took the opportunity to criticize French President Emmanuel Macron. Enrico Letta, leader of the left-wing Democratic Party, suggested that the Italian government’s stance in Europe might be influenced by the French election results. He noted that Le Pen’s expected success in the first round may have led Meloni to abstain from the EU summit vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as European Commission president.
Despite Meloni’s silence, reports in Italian newspaper *La Repubblica* indicate she would have preferred a more decisive victory for Le Pen to disrupt the power dynamics in the European Union. Meloni is reportedly dissatisfied with being excluded from discussions on EU top job appointments.
According to *Il Giornale*, Le Pen’s advantage is seen as beneficial for Meloni and the far-right group ECR’s influence in the EU, potentially aiding Meloni’s goal of securing a prominent European Commission position for Italy.
