A New Far-Right Party Emerging in Italy?
Italian politics may be facing a new shift on the right as Roberto Vannacci, a controversial former army general and current member of the European Parliament, prepares to launch his own political party. The move would mark a formal break from Matteo Salvini’s Lega, the right-wing populist party in which Vannacci has served as a high-profile figure.
A former general, Vannacci first gained national attention after publishing Il mondo al contrario (“The World Upside Down”), a book filled with provocative views on immigration, gender and culture that became a bestseller in Italy and triggered sharp criticism for its homophobic and xenophobic content. He later entered politics, winning a seat in the European Parliament on the Lega ticket in 2024.
In recent weeks, reports have circulated that Vannacci is taking concrete steps toward founding a new party under the name Futuro Nazionale (“National Future”), including registering the brand and domain for a future political platform. This suggests he is seeking to establish an independent political force on the far right, distinct from Lega’s structure.
The potential split reflects broader tensions within Italy’s conservative and nationalist bloc. Lega (ranked 169 in the European DMI), led by Salvini, has traditionally occupied space on the right alongside Fratelli d’Italia (ranked 157 in the European DMI), the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and other smaller factions, with debates over strategy, identity and appeal to voters.
Brief comparison: far-right and right-wing parties in Italy
Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy)
Led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Fratelli d’Italia is the dominant right-wing party in Italy today. It is widely classified as national conservative and right-wing populist and has roots tracing back to post-fascist currents in Italian politics. The party led the center-right coalition in recent elections and remains the largest Italian delegation within the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament.
Lega (League)
Under Matteo Salvini, Lega has been a major force on the Italian right with a strong anti-immigration and Eurosceptic profile. While often labelled right-wing or far-right by observers, the party rejects the far-right label and contains significant internal diversity, with some leaders positioned as more centrist or moderate. Lega’s appeal historically spans regionalist roots in northern Italy to broader national populist positions.
Futuro Nazionale (Vannacci’s Project)
The new initiative around Vannacci, still informal but legally anchored in a registered trademark, appears aimed at a more hard-line nationalist electorate than Lega’s core base, with symbolism and name choices that invoke strong patriotic identity. Vannacci’s rhetoric and politics have often been considered more radical than mainstream Lega positions, and the potential new party could draw voters further to the right.
Smaller Hard-Right Groups
Beyond these main parties, Italy also has smaller far-right or nationalist formations (e.g., Movimento Nazionale per la Sovranità and historical groups like Forza Nuova), which combine varying degrees of national-sovereign rhetoric and post-fascist legacies. These groups tend to have limited electoral success but remain part of the broader right-wing ecosystem.
Political implications
Vannacci’s move highlights ongoing fragmentation and realignment within the Italian right. While Fratelli d’Italia currently dominates and Lega remains a key player, a new party like Futuro Nazionale could attract voters dissatisfied with existing options or seeking a sharper ideological profile. Whether it develops into a significant electoral force (or becomes another niche player) will be clearer as it formalises its platform and organisation ahead of future elections.
Timeline: Roberto Vannacci’s rise
Pre-2023: military career
Before becoming a public figure, Roberto Vannacci was a senior Italian Army officer with extensive experience in international missions. He served as a paratrooper and special-forces commander, including leadership roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was active in operations against the so-called Islamic State and in other theaters. His military background established him as a respected figure within defence circles but did not make him widely known nationally.
August 2023: Il mondo al contrario published
Vannacci catapulted to national prominence with the publication of his book Il mondo al contrario (“The World Upside Down”). Originally self-published, it quickly became a bestseller in Italy despite and partly because of its controversial content on gender roles, immigration and LGBTQ+ issues, drawing both strong criticism and broad media attention.
August–September 2023: public debate and military backlash
Following the book’s release, Italian Defence authorities opened an internal review, and Vannacci was removed from a command position. The Defence Minister publicly distanced the military establishment from his views, stating that they could damage the reputation and neutrality of the armed forces.
Late 2023: suspension from military service
An internal investigation concluded with Vannacci being suspended from military service for around 11 months with reduced pay. The disciplinary action was justified by his superiors as necessary to preserve the neutrality and prestige of the armed forces given the political nature of his statements.
Early 2024: follow-up publication and political messaging
In March 2024, Vannacci published a follow-up book (Il coraggio vince), which he promoted in conjunction with an emerging political profile as a public commentator on national identity and social issues.
April 2024: European Parliament candidacy announced
In April 2024, Matteo Salvini’s Lega party announced Vannacci as a candidate for the European Parliament election, highlighting him as a leading name on their lists and giving him a national platform. Salvini positioned him as someone who shared key values with Lega, including sovereignty and tradition.
June 2024: elected to the European Parliament
Vannacci won a seat in the European Parliament as a Lega candidate, becoming one of the party’s top-voted representatives in the election. His success reflected how quickly his public visibility had translated into electoral support.
January 2026: Futuro Nazionale brand registered
In early 2026, Vannacci took the step of registering the logo and brand “Futuro Nazionale” with the European trademark office. This is widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a potential new political party linked to him, a development covered in Italian media as signalling a move toward an independent political project on the right. Vannacci himself described the branding at this stage as “just a symbol,” akin to his earlier book’s impact.