The break with Salvini

Roberto Vannacci, the former Italian general turned MEP, appeared on La7's 'Otto e mezzo' and launched a direct attack on his former party leader, Matteo Salvini. Vannacci, who was elected to the European Parliament on the League's list, claimed the dynamic was the reverse of what is often portrayed.

“Non ho usato Salvini, è lui che ha usato me per prendere 500mila voti.”

He announced that his new political movement, Futuro Nazionale, had reached 100,000 members in just three months, a figure he claims represents the voters he brought to the League who did not actually want to vote for the party.

Vannacci's core criticism of the League is one of inconsistency. He accused the party of being sovereignist only on alternating days, pointing to a specific contradiction on Ukraine policy.

“Se vota contro le armi in Ucraina in Europa e invece in Italia vota per il decreto armi, è un problema di coerenza della Lega.”

He also criticized the party for inviting LGBTQ+ representatives to its meetings while promoting the 'natural family', stating this was a problem of the League's coherence, not his.

Criticism of the Meloni government

The former general did not spare Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from criticism, despite acknowledging shared ideas. He argued that the government has failed to deliver on its key promises since taking office.

“Molte delle cose proposte non sono state realizzate.”

He specifically noted that none of the three flagship reforms of the centre-right—differentiated autonomy, the premiership, and justice reform—have been implemented.

Vannacci described Meloni's government as a right that has 'lost its bearings' and positioned himself as the navigator to put it back on course.

“È una destra che ha perso la trebisonda; Vannacci è il sestante che fa il punto nave e riporta sulla giusta rotta.”

He also took aim at Marina Berlusconi, questioning her authority to veto his entry into the coalition and suggesting that Forza Italia is a party 'hetero-directed by finance and publishing'.

Defining the 'authentic right'

When pressed by host Lilli Gruber to define his political stance, Vannacci rejected the label of 'extreme right', preferring his own formulation.

“Mi definisco di destra autentica, fiera di essere destra e non rinnega nulla della propria identità.”

He anchored his political identity in his role as a general and his membership in the Europe of Sovereign Nations group in the European Parliament, which he said is characterized by the defense of the sovereignty of peoples and European nations.

Clash on civil rights and immigration

The interview featured tense exchanges on social issues. Vannacci stood firm on his promotion of the 'natural family', dismissing the host's suggestion that the concept is obsolete. On the topic of homosexuality, he cited a dictionary definition of 'normality', stumbling over the name of the Zingarelli dictionary in a gaffe. On immigration, he called for the deportation of irregular migrants and the creation of more detention centers for repatriation, arguing that immigrants pay very few taxes and do not contribute to the welfare state.

Building a new political force

Looking ahead to his party's constituent assembly in Rome, Vannacci embraced his party's composition of defectors from other groups.

“I miei colleghi di partito sono i rifiuti degli altri, quello che avanza. A me sta bene, voglio la sporca dozzina.”

He stated that electoral alliances would be made only close to the elections and only with those who share his red lines on security, immigration, and the Green Deal.