Italy is set to hold a general election on September 25 after President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament on Thursday following outgoing Premier Mario Draghi’s resignation, with a coalition of right and centre-right parties tipped to win.
The government of national unity headed by the former president of the European Central Bank (ECB) collapsed after a year and a half in power after failing to get the backing of three important parties, ex-premier Giuseppe Conte’s 5-Star Movement (M5S), Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (FI) and Matteo Salvini’s League, in a confidence vote on Wednesday.
The right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party led by Giorgia Meloni, the only major group not to back Draghi’s government, is currently top of the opinion polls, with the support of around 23% of the electorate.
The right-wing League is polling at around 13-14% and centre-right FI around 8%, which combined should give the right/centre-right a working majority in parliament if it translates into real votes at the ballot box.
If the right/centre-right win and the FdI is the party to get most votes, Meloni would be in strong position to become Italy’s first woman premier.
Story: ANSA ,English
