ROME (Reuters) – After the death of Silvio Berlusconi in June, there were doubts about whether his Forza Italia party could survive without him. However, nine months later, the party has actually seen an increase in popularity in the polls and is playing a role in moderating the image of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s nationalist government.
Since Berlusconi’s passing, Forza Italia has undergone significant changes. The new leader, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, has taken on a more low-key management style and has moved away from the party’s previous pro-Moscow stance, which was influenced by Berlusconi’s close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tajani’s leadership has resonated with centrist voters who appreciate his pro-European politics, helping to keep the party viable despite initial concerns about its future.
“When (Berlusconi) left us I was in Washington, it was three o’clock in the morning. I got a message from a friend saying ‘He flew to heaven’. The world collapsed around me, I feared it was all over,” Tajani said at a party congress last month.
Unlike Berlusconi’s contentious relationship with Meloni, Tajani has formed smoother ties with the Prime Minister, making him her most reliable political ally. This stands in contrast to Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, who has become increasingly volatile ahead of the June European elections.
The League, Forza Italia, and Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party have all formed different alliances within the European parliament, creating divisions as they prepare for the upcoming vote. While Salvini has maintained his anti-EU rhetoric, Meloni has shifted to a more constructive approach towards Brussels.
The results of the June vote will determine the distribution of top jobs in the European institutions, and a strong showing for Tajani could boost Meloni’s push for a prominent EU role for one of her allies.
According to a recent survey, Brothers of Italy has become the country’s most popular party, polling at 27.5% ahead of the June election. Forza Italia, once polling around 7%, now stands at 8.7%, slightly ahead of the League.
Tajani, aiming for 10% of the vote in June, has a personal approval rating of 36%, higher than any other Italian party leader except Meloni.
Antonio Tajani, a former journalist, co-founded Forza Italia and spent most of his political career in Brussels before becoming president of the European parliament in 2017. His time away from Italy helped him distance himself from Berlusconi’s scandals and the tumultuous domestic political scene.
Since taking over as leader, Tajani has focused on delegating power and promoting party unity. Forza Italia lawmakers have appreciated the shift towards shared responsibility within the party.
Berlusconi’s family, who inherited his business empire, including Italy’s top commercial broadcaster MediaForEurope, continues to support the party financially. Despite rumors of one of his children entering politics, Tajani’s leadership may not revive Forza Italia to its former status as Italy’s leading right-wing force.
“The era of Forza Italia dominance is over. Times have changed and the party looks unlikely to return to its past vote percentages,” said a political communications expert.
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(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Angus MacSwan)
