Italy’s far right is entering a new phase of internal competition with the arrival of Roberto Vannacci, a former Italian army general who has become a controversial figure on the radical right. His hard-line positions on immigration, national identity and social issues are putting pressure on established right-wing parties and creating a new political challenge for those seeking to retain the most conservative segments of the electorate.
Roberto Vannacci first gained widespread public attention in 2023 following the publication of his book “Il mondo al contrario”, in which he expressed conservative views and strongly criticized certain social developments. The book’s success gave him considerable media exposure and helped propel him into the political arena. In 2024, he turned his growing popularity into political influence by being elected to the European Parliament on the League’s ticket, the party led by Matteo Salvini.
However, Vannacci’s relationship with the League gradually deteriorated. He came to believe that the party was not sufficiently radical on certain issues and decided to pursue his own political path. He subsequently launched his own movement, Futuro Nazionale, with the ambition of building a nationalist and sovereigntist force positioned further to the right of Italy’s existing political parties.
The emergence of this new movement represents a challenge for Italy’s main conservative forces. The League, which has long occupied a prominent position within Italy’s populist and sovereigntist right, now faces competition from a former member who can adopt some of its traditional themes while pushing them in a more radical direction. The development also affects Fratelli d’Italia, the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which currently dominates the Italian right.
Since taking office, Giorgia Meloni has sought to combine her national-conservative political roots with an image of a leader capable of governing and maintaining relations with European partners. This strategy of political normalization has helped her government establish itself and remain in power. At the same time, however, it has created political space for figures such as Vannacci, who accuse mainstream right-wing parties of abandoning some of their ideological positions in order to preserve institutional credibility and government responsibility.
Vannacci is attempting to build his influence precisely around this sense of frustration. His political message emphasizes the defense of national identity, authority, security, sovereignty and traditional values. His highly direct and provocative communication style allows him to attract media attention and appeal to voters who believe that established right-wing parties are not going far enough.
His rise could therefore trigger a new escalation within the Italian right. In an effort to retain their most conservative voters, the League and Fratelli d’Italia could come under pressure to adopt tougher rhetoric on certain issues. The political competition is consequently no longer simply a confrontation between the right and the left. It is also taking place between different factions of the radical right, each seeking to present itself as the strongest defender of conservative and nationalist positions.
This situation presents a particular challenge for Giorgia Meloni. Her government has demonstrated considerable political staying power and is approaching an exceptionally long period in office by the standards of the Italian Republic. Yet this stability could also encourage the emergence of opposition from further to her right, led by political actors who believe that the government has become too moderate or too pragmatic.
For Vannacci, the main challenge will now be to turn his personal popularity into a sustainable political organization. Strong media visibility alone is not enough to build a lasting political force. Futuro Nazionale will have to demonstrate its ability to establish local structures, recruit supporters, field candidates and, above all, achieve significant electoral results.
The issue, however, goes beyond Roberto Vannacci himself. His rise reflects a broader transformation within Europe’s radical right, where immigration, sovereignty, national identity, security and conservative values are becoming increasingly central political issues. Italy is particularly significant in this respect, as a country where the radical right is already in government while simultaneously facing competition from figures and movements advocating an even harder line.
Vannacci’s arrival could therefore gradually alter the balance of power on the Italian right. Even if his movement does not immediately achieve major electoral success, it can still influence the political debate by forcing established parties to respond to his proposals and positions.
Italy is thus facing a new struggle within its own right-wing camp: between Giorgia Meloni’s government-oriented and institutional strategy, the League’s sovereigntist approach, and Roberto Vannacci’s openly radical political project. This competition could shape the future of Italy’s far right and, more broadly, contribute to redefining the balance of power within Europe’s radical right.
