Emmanuel Macron’s victory highlights the divisions of the Italian government coalition, which goes from the far right (League) to the center-left (Democratic Party, PD), particularly around the central question of Europe.
In a press release published on Sunday April 24, the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, welcomed “excellent news for all of Europe”, recalling that Italy and France “are committed side by side, with all the other partners, to building a stronger, more united and fairer European Union”. With the first challenge being to take up that of the war in Ukraine.
Within the government, it was the head of Italian diplomacy, Luigi Di Maio, who spoke first to welcome the re-election of Emmanuel Macron. The former Vice-President of the Council (5 Star Movement, populist) wished for a ” good work “ to the tenant of the Elysée, emphasizing that “it is only with a strong pro-European momentum that we can continue to fight, all together, important battles in favor of the citizens, also in Europe”. Mr. Di Maio distinguished himself in 2019 when he came to France to meet representatives of the “yellow vests” movement, causing a diplomatic outcry.
“Our turn” in 2023
Always very present on social networks, Matteo Salvini, head of the League (extreme right) praised the career of Marine le Pen, seeing in his score (41.46% of the vote, against 58.54% for Mr. Macron) promises for the future of populism in Europe. “Alone against all, coherent and smiling, you collected the vote of 13 million French people, a percentage never seen before”, he tweeted Sunday evening, posting a photo alongside the far-right leader. Mr. Salvini invited “moving forward together, for a Europe based on work, family, security, rights and freedom”.
At the other end of the political spectrum, the secretary general of the Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, was delighted with the victory of Emmanuel Macron. The new mandate of the French president is “a vote that defeats nationalism, anti-Europeanism and Putin”. Former Council President Matteo Renzi (centre-left) was one of the first to greet “a landslide victory, a beautiful page of hope for France and for Europe” on Twitter.
These different visions of Europe are likely to increase tensions within the Draghi government in view of the next legislative elections in the peninsula, which should be held at the end of the legislature, in 2023. With respectively 155 and 133 deputies in the Chamber, the M5S and the League are indeed the two most important formations, but also the most Eurosceptic. Building on this success of Emmanuel Macron, the Italian center-left hopes to become the majority next year: “It’s our turn next year, united and determined”, urged Enrico Letta.