In Italy, Meloni's party wins in EU polls, likely to play kingmaker

Rome: Giorgia

Meloni

's far-right

party

won a decisive victory in European elections in

Italy

, boosting her leadership at home and consolidating her

kingmaker

role in Europe.
"It is a resounding result," Meloni said Monday of the gains made by her Brothers of Italy party, despite a historically low turnout of 49.6%. "Italy is going completely against the trend," she said, noting that elsewhere in Europe governing parties had suffered in the

polls

.

With over 99% of all votes counted, Meloni's post-fascist party secured 28.8% of the vote - surpassing the 26% in 2022 national elections.
Meloni had pitched the European Parliament polls as a referendum on her leadership, asking voters to write "Giorgia" on their ballots. The result is a remarkable reversal from 2019 European elections, when Meloni's then-marginal party secured just 6% of the vote.
All eyes are now on what Meloni will do with her increased influence in Brussels. She has been courted both by Ursula von der Leyen of centre-right EPP and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally.