Beyond party preferences, FdI is drawing up its lists for the general election: Arianna Meloni’s proposal is gaining ground

Preferences or no preferences, within Fratelli d’Italia they have begun to wonder whether it might be time to start drawing up electoral lists in anticipation of the vote. Given that it is not yet known whether the election will take place in a year’s time, sooner or even later, these are, quite obviously, mere speculations. But they clearly illustrate the determination of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party not to be caught unprepared should the parliamentary term come to an end at any moment. It is obvious that if the amendment introducing fixed list leaders and three preferences had been passed, the picture would be even clearer. But the overall approach does not change all that much. We start from the certainty that Giorgia Meloni will stand as a candidate in all five multi-member constituencies – the maximum allowed under the new law. Likewise, it is a given that the party’s leading figures – starting with ministers, group leaders and senior officials – will in all likelihood be placed high up on the party lists, but also on the supplementary list from which candidates are drawn once the majority bonus has been secured. It is difficult to make a precise calculation at this stage, but at the party headquarters in Via della Scrofa – partly due to her role as head of the political secretariat and in charge of membership recruitment for Fratelli d’Italia – they are practically taking it for granted that Arianna Meloni, Giorgia’s sister, will be included on the list. She has never served in Parliament but is nevertheless considered ready to enter the electoral fray. After all, as she had cryptically told Il Corriere, even though she does not aspire to a parliamentary career, Arianna considers herself at the party’s disposal. And although she managed to stay out of the European elections (“I’d prefer not to”), her travels around Italy – from Puglia to Umbria, visiting the party’s various offices – are making her suitability for a national role increasingly evident. Although she did joke about the possibility of a mayoral bid: “If no one else puts themselves forward, I’m up for it…”. As head of the secretariat, moreover, Arianna Meloni will also play a role in vetting and finalising the candidate lists, although the final approval will, of course, rest with her sister, the Prime Minister.

During the days of tension surrounding the electoral law, there was great apprehension – particularly amongst Meloni’s MPs elected in the south – regarding the switch to a preferential voting system, which, according to many, would have made their re-election to Parliament much more difficult. Now that amendment – which, according to some estimates, would result in around half of FdI’s MPs being elected via the preferential voting system – could be resubmitted to the Senate. It is by no means certain that it will pass. In the meantime, the closed lists will continue to be drawn up directly at Via della Scrofa.