Vannacci's new party shakes Italy's center‑right after Lecco and Macerata runoffs

In the recent runoff elections (ballottaggi) in the northern Italian towns of Lecco and Macerata, the centre‑right coalition recorded notable gains. Lecco returned to the right after two decades, while the coalition’s overall performance was praised by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a confirmation of its strength.

The elections have drawn attention to General Roberto Vannacci, a former special‑forces commander who is establishing a new political movement called Futuro Nazionale. Vannacci, who has a military background spanning missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflict zones, announced the party’s foundational document five months ago and is already polling around 5 percent, with expectations of further growth. His platform, promoted through the book “Il mondo al contrario,” generated €800 000 in 2023 and is projected to add €200 000 in 2024.

Analysts warn that Vannacci’s emergence could reshape the parliamentary balance: a modest group of his supporters could secure enough deputies to form an official group, potentially pulling votes from Lega and Forza Italia. Both parties are already undergoing internal re‑organisation, as the coalition seeks to maintain cohesion amid the new right‑wing faction’s rise.