“Hungary and Poland are countries that want to change Europe from within and do not hide it. They have not succeeded so far, but surely they will try to create a Rome/Budapest/Warsaw axis”, according to Tara Varma.
From Mussolini to Giorgia Meloni, Italy elects far-right prime minister
For the expert from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), these three countries do not intend to leave the EU after the brexitbut they can “prevent it from advancing, taking advantage of community funds”.
Ukraine and sanctions
But the “values” front could quickly crack over the question of the war in Ukraine and the EU’s policy towards Moscow. “Meloni will have to choose between Poland and Hungary when the time comes,” sums up Tara Varma.
The Italian leader clearly expressed her pro-Ukrainian positions, in favor of European sanctions against Russia and Atlanticist.
This position is close to that of Warsaw, but it is far from that of Orban, who in recent years forged close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is highly critical of European sanctions against Moscow.
Despite the pro-Russian attitude of his allies Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini, Meloni, whose party dominates the winning coalition in Italy, should not change his position on Ukraine, his partners hope.
“Regarding foreign policy, as far as we know, Meloni is in favor of sanctions against Russia and Brothers of Italy is closer to the Polish PiS than to the Hungarian Fidesz,” estimates the Hungarian analyst Patrik Szicherle.