In Italy, the party of post-fascist Meloni received almost 26 percent of the vote - "a clear message," according to Meloni. She calls on Italy to unite. Meanwhile, the situation in Italy is being followed with concern on the financial markets.
After the far-right Fratelli d'Italia's strong performance in Italy's parliamentary elections, party leader Giorgia Meloni has claimed the right to form the next government. "The Italians have sent a clear message in favor of a right-wing government led by Fratelli d'Italia," said Meloni on the night in Rome. "We will rule for everyone," she added.
This is a proud day for her party, said 45-year-old Meloni. Now unity is needed to tackle the many problems in the country. "If we are called to govern this nation, we will do so for all Italians, with the aim of uniting the people, promoting what unites and not what divides," Meloni told journalists. You will not abuse the trust of the voters.
According to the preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Italy, they received almost 26 percent of the votes. The legal alliance of her party with the Lega of former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and the Forza Italia of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will thus have clear majorities in both chambers of the Italian Parliament.
Meloni could thus become the first woman to head an Italian government. Due to the complicated electoral system, the alliance of Melonis FDI, the Lega of ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and the conservative Forza Italia of longtime Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should get an absolute majority of the seats in both houses of parliament - in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
The centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party had previously admitted defeat. "This is a sad evening for our country," said PD MP Debora Sarracchiani. "The right has a majority in parliament, but not in the country." The PD will now be the largest opposition party in parliament. Voter turnout was 64.1 percent, according to preliminary information. Four years ago, 74 percent of eligible voters had voted.
The outcome of the election was followed with suspense on the financial markets. After Greece, Italy is the most heavily indebted euro country: liabilities account for around 150 percent of economic output. Italy's borrowing costs have already risen significantly - driven by soaring inflation, the European Central Bank's (ECB) interest rate hike and political uncertainty.
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"The danger is that heavily indebted countries such as Italy or Greece already have to pay significantly higher interest rates for new debts," said Volker Treier, head of foreign trade at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). "And the interest burden is likely to increase further in the coming years. That can quickly become a stumbling block for economic development in the euro zone and thus for important markets for German companies." More than half of the German trade volume goes back to exports and imports with EU member states.
