Vannacci launches Futuro Nazionale amid centre-right wall: 'Italy for Italians' and 'We are the dregs'

The launch in Rome

Roberto Vannacci took the stage at the Auditorium della Conciliazione on 13 June to inaugurate Futuro Nazionale, his new political party. Before a packed audience, the former general cast himself and his followers as outsiders. "We represent the waste, the dregs, and we are proud of it," he said. "In Parliament we are a dirty dozen, here we are children of no one, and we are fiercely proud of it." He claimed the party was already polling at 5% before its official birth. The assembly began with Italy's national anthem and was scheduled to continue through the following day.

Hardline nationalist message

Vannacci laid out a staunchly nationalist platform, repeatedly chanting "Italy for Italians" and asserting that his project is "Italian, not African." He said his party is rooted in Rome and Christian tradition, unashamed of the slogan.

We are not ashamed to say it, and indeed I ask you to say it too: 'Italy for Italians'.

He warned that mass immigration costs Germany 36 to 40 billion euros a year and France about 20 billion, claiming foreigners are eroding Italy's social welfare system built by Italians' work. He also addressed European issues, noting he has been in the European Parliament for three months and that there has been no discussion of leaving the euro.

Open doors but with conditions

Asked whether his party would welcome members of far-right group Casapound, Vannacci replied that Futuro Nazionale is open to anyone, from leftist collectives to anarchists of any political stripe. However, he stressed that newcomers must fully conform to the party's principles and declare themselves "futurist" or else "last as long as a cat on the highway." He also demanded that all illegally occupied houses be cleared, starting with those occupied earliest.

Centre-right slams the door

Reaction from the ruling coalition was swift and hostile.

I am sorry that Futuro Nazionale has chosen to act as the left's fifth column, clearly abandoning the centre-right.

Francesco Lollobrigida of Brothers of Italy said the general "called himself out" by voting no-confidence. Centrist Maurizio Lupi stated that Vannacci is "the South Pole and we are the North Pole." Lega deputy Edoardo Rixi admitted he was "worried" that if the centre-right ever embraced Vannacci, it would create an internal political problem for 2028. Despite the wall, Action party leader Carlo Calenda predicted the coalition would ally with Vannacci at the last minute before the next election.

Side note on the knee-pads row

Vannacci was also asked about the controversy sparked by Five Star MP Francesco Silvestri, who told Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni she had put on knee pads rather than straighten her back in dealings with foreign leaders. Meloni reacted furiously, accusing Silvestri of sexism. Vannacci said that in his experience, words have many shades and he would not have perceived the remark as sexist, but added that he is not a woman and therefore cannot answer for them.