by InTrieste
A newly released national poll showing Roberto Vannacci’s fledgling far-right party edging ahead of Matteo Salvini’s Lega has sparked fresh questions about the future of one of Italy’s traditional conservative forces, including in Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region long considered a League stronghold.
According to a YouTrend survey published Thursday for Sky TG24, Vannacci’s Futuro Nazionale has reached 5.9 percent in voting intentions, narrowly surpassing the Lega at 5.8 percent. The former army general recently broke away from Salvini’s party to launch his own political movement, which has attracted attention for its nationalist platform and growing visibility among right-wing voters.
The poll does not immediately threaten the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, which remains Italy’s largest party at 27.8 percent. But it highlights mounting competition on the right, particularly for the Lega, whose support has steadily declined from its peak several years ago.
In Friuli Venezia Giulia, where Lega governor Massimiliano Fedriga remains one of the party’s most prominent figures, the survey results have prompted questions about whether Vannacci’s rise could reshape the political landscape ahead of future elections.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Fedriga downplayed concerns about the challenge posed by Vannacci’s new party.
“I never look at other political forces,” Fedriga said. “I look at our political force, which must speak to the country with even greater strength.”
He insisted that the Lega remained focused on its priorities at both the national and European levels and argued that political support is ultimately decided “at the ballot box, not in the polls.”
Fedriga also avoided speculation about his own future role within the party, saying simply that his current responsibility is serving as president of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
While it remains unclear where Futuro Nazionale’s support is coming from, political observers note that regions such as Friuli Venezia Giulia could become an important testing ground. The Lega has historically enjoyed strong backing across northeastern Italy, but Vannacci’s appeal to voters on the nationalist right may create new competition within the coalition’s traditional electorate.
For now, the poll offers only a snapshot of voter sentiment. Yet Vannacci’s rapid ascent suggests that Italy’s right-wing landscape remains in flux — and that even in regions where the Lega has long dominated, new political dynamics may be emerging.
