Meloni's rivals fail to unite: the reason - Russia
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's political rivals are struggling to unite ahead of the elections, mainly due to a sharp dispute over foreign policy towards Russia and Ukraine. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement, opposes continued Italian military aid to Ukraine and demands a change in foreign policy, while Elly Schlein, head of the Democratic Party, supports continued support for Kyiv. The dispute prevents the formation of a united opposition front.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's political rivals are struggling to unite ahead of the elections, mainly due to a sharp dispute over foreign policy towards Russia and Ukraine. Giuseppe Conte, who served as prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic and leads the Five Star Movement, opposes continued Italian military aid to Ukraine. At a Movement event in Milan, he declared that "everything needs to change - starting with foreign policy." In contrast, Elly Schlein, who heads the Democratic Party, sees continued support for Ukraine as a central component of European security. The dispute between the two also concerns the desired order of operations: Schlein wants the formulation of a common platform to precede the selection of a candidate for prime minister, while Conte prefers to reverse the order. Additional potential partners include Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva party and the Greens and Left Alliance. In the background, a YouTrend survey conducted between August 31 and September 3, 2026 among 800 adults in Italy found that 53% of respondents believe the country is heading "in the wrong direction," and 59% gave the government a negative rating. Meanwhile, Meloni's government is promoting a change in the electoral system designed to give an advantage to the largest alliance formed before the elections, increasing pressure on the divided opposition.