After the historic election victory of the Italian right, the country’s new government has some useful Hungarian blueprints it should follow, conservative writer and activist Francesco Giubilei told news and opinion portal Mandiner in an interview.
“Of course, there are differences between the two countries, but obviously certain policies can serve as an example, such as family policy to change birth rates in a positive direction,” Giubilei said. “Orbán has also set up great conservative think tanks in Hungary which could be a good model,” he added.
In recent years, Hungary has been seen as a role model for conservatives, including on immigration and cultural values; however, Italy may also be interested in Hungary’s successful pro-family policies, which have helped boost the country’s birth rate. Giorgia Meloni has described Italy’s plunging birth rate as a “demographic winter” in the past, and says she wants to offer free kindergarten places to all Italian mothers. Her close alliance with Orbán also means there is the potential for close information and policy exchange that could benefit Italy’s new government on a range of issues, especially since Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party lacks experience in governing at the federal level.
Giubilei, who is the leader of the Nazione Future (Future Nation) conservative movement, told Mandiner that Giorgia Meloni’s election victory has massive implications outside Italy as well.
“The result is very important, not only for Italy but also for the European Union. Italy ranks third in the EU in terms of its economy and population, and it will now have a conservative leadership after 10 years. This is a great opportunity to make changes in a conservative direction, on immigration, on family policy, on improving birth rates, and on the economy,” Giubilei said.
[pp id=8974]
“We will certainly have the names of the ministers, the secretaries of state, by the end of October. It is a very important question what decisions the leaders of the three parties will take on foreign policy and on the economy. It is important that there is a balance between political and professional names, and I hope that conservative people will have a strong role in the government,” he added.
Asked whether the new right-wing government can achieve lasting changes in Italy, Giubilei said, “I hope we can achieve that. Immigration policy is particularly important because it is an important issue in Italy. We need a policy that is in our national interest. We need to help the Italian people, the Italian economy. This is a difficult moment for the European economy because of inflation and the energy crisis. Italy can have a say in EU policy, for example, against the so-called ‘Green Deal,’ which does not take into account important economic and social aspects.”
[pp id=49908]
Asked whether he thinks European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will make good her threat to punish the Italians for their “bad decision” to elect a conservative government, Giubilei said despite her remarks, Italy will continue to be a fundamental influence in shaping the future of Europe.
“Von der Leyen’s words were shameful because she interfered in Italian politics, in Italian elections. I don’t believe that this government will kick Italy out of the EU or take Italy out of the euro; there will be no such thing. What is being talked about is changing the EU. Italy is a founding state, the third-largest country. We have a strategic role in shaping EU policy,” Giubilei said. “Much of the migration from North Africa goes through Italy, and in the future, even more gas could come through our country, so Italy has an important role to play.”
