In a high‑profile address to the annual TEHA Ambrosetti business summit on the shores of Lake Como, Roberto Vannacci – a former general and leader of the newly‑formed Futuro Nazionale (National Future) party – urged the European Union to stop political integration and focus on defending Europe’s cultural heritage.
Vannacci, whose party has quickly risen to become Italy’s fourth‑most‑popular political force within seven months of its launch, argued that the 27‑nation bloc should become “a platform of collaboration, not coercion.” He called for the EU to slash red tape and to protect what he described as the continent’s “culture and civilisation.”
Monti’s warning
Former prime minister and two‑time EU commissioner Mario Monti, 83, responded sharply, warning that Vannacci’s rhetoric echoed the dangerous populism of Italy’s fascist past. Monti said he would devote the rest of his life to stopping such ideas from gaining power, likening the nationalist’s proposals to the divisive tactics of Benito Mussolini.
Monti’s remarks were met with polite applause, while other attendees expressed support for Vannacci’s critique of EU bureaucracy. Construction lobbyist Achille Colombo Clerici told Reuters that many of the general’s points were “true.”
Broader European context
Vannacci highlighted the electoral successes of right‑leaning parties across Europe, pointing to the upcoming state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, Germany, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) hopes to win power for the first time, and citing the strength of France’s Rassemblement National (RN). RN leader Jordan Bardella, also speaking at the conference, echoed a similar vision of a “Europe of growth and a Europe of borders.”
The nationalist’s platform includes controversial proposals such as abolishing Italy’s same‑sex civil unions and expelling immigrants who do not assimilate “the values of our civilisation.” These positions are siphoning support from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition as she prepares for the next national election, expected next year.
Economic implications
Vannacci framed his cultural arguments as essential to economic vitality, claiming that business can only thrive in “a cohesive society” where citizens share a sense of sacrifice and belonging. He suggested that the EU’s current regulatory approach stifles entrepreneurship and that a return to national sovereignty would unleash growth.
While some business leaders at the summit agreed that excessive EU regulation hampers innovation, others cautioned that a fragmented market could undermine the single market’s benefits. The debate underscored the tension between national sovereignty and the economic advantages of European integration.
Local reaction
Among the audience was Olympic speed‑skater Arianna Fontana, Italy’s most decorated athlete, who said she was “almost moved to tears” by Monti’s speech. The mixed response highlighted the deep divide within Italy’s business community over the future direction of the EU.
As the conference concluded, Vannacci’s call for a Europe that prioritises cultural identity over political centralisation resonated with a growing segment of voters, while Monti’s stark warning served as a reminder of the continent’s historical lessons.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
