*Vinicius Rodrigues Vieira
Far right, far right, fascism, post-fascism. Regardless of the label, II. A little more than three-quarter centuries since the end of World War II, the ideological descendants of Benito Mussolini will return to power in Italy.
The victory of the Fratelli d’Italia party (literally, the Brothers of Italy) and its allies in the election last Sunday (25th) represents breaking a taboo and giving Bolsonarism an ally that could be crucial to its political survival. More next Sunday if Lula’s victory is confirmed in the first round of the Brazilian presidential race.
Since the end of the largest armed conflict in history, none of the three major economies of Continental Europe has succumbed to the heirs of fascism. The closest it came to confronting the specter of right-wing totalitarianism in power after the consolidation of liberal democracy imposed by the victorious allies in World War II was France, which in 2002, 2017 and 2022 currently had a representative of the National Front. Reunification.National (National Unity, free translation), in the second round of the presidential election. In Germany, the far-right AfD is far from leading majorities in parliament.
The leader of the Italian Brotherhood, Giorgia Meloni, is expected to become the country’s first female prime minister when asked to form a coalition government that could at first glance reduce the xenophobic momentum. However, Meloni’s main partner in government must be Lega Nord (Northern League), written by Matteo Salvini, a friend of Bolsonarism.
Meloni’s main circle of supporters is closed by Forza Italia by former prime minister and right-wing populist Silvio Berlusconi, who relativizes Vladmir Putin’s role in fomenting the war in Ukraine.
For Steve Bannon, a former convict who has given Donald Trump a neo-fascist look and is also close to the Bolsonaro family, Meloni will be like former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to hold office in the UK: she will face off. great opposition, but it will prevail in the end. But the Fratelli leader is not coming to power amid a wave of liberalization like Thatcher did in 1979. To get off the ground, his pro-business policies will depend on strong state action and face a potential increase in macroeconomic instability.
Beyond Italy’s borders, Meloni’s rise to power should not have a major impact on the European Union, as his party does not favor Italy’s departure from the bloc, but merely the punctual development of integration among its member states. . This contrasts with Salvini’s stance, which is more critical of Brussels and could therefore put the Fratelli leader in a dangerous position, which is in danger of losing power soon.
Outside of Europe, Bannon’s anti-globalization current is only returning to command an advanced economy that befell Trump in the White House between 2017 and 2021. As long as the Meloni rule continues and the American does not return to the presidency in 2024, Italy will therefore be the reference for those who have experienced fifty shades of fascism.
Once the polls are approved, the Bolsonaristas will seek direction from October 3rd. More so than Hungary and Poland, which until yesterday were the main far-right accents in the world and more specifically in Europe, Italy is becoming a major stronghold of Bolsonarism in its possible articulation to regain power in 2026 or earlier if they choose. well. undemocratic ways to face the approaching new Lula era.
Meanwhile, Meloni has something to learn from President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The Brazilian, who speaks more of “God, Fatherland, Family and Freedom” than Trump, who is facing resistance from the Root Republicans, represents the greatest example of the so-called center-right normalization of fascism.
Names of this Brazilian political faction, such as São Paulo governor and re-election candidate Rodrigo Garcia (PSDB), his predecessor João Doria (PSDB), and his third road lover Simone Tebet (PMDB), supported Bolsonaro in 2018 despite his record. evil military race, possible terrorist, and congressional invalidation for 28 years.
For friends envious of the first world, there is some consolation that we are on the verge of overthrowing the Brazilian “brothers” while the far-right wave in Europe may be just beginning. Bye dear! Meanwhile, in the bosom of so-called civilization, the clearest manifestations of barbarism are emerging, which the new nationalist era has shamelessly outlined.
*Vinicius Rodrigues Vieira He holds a PhD in international relations from Oxford and teaches Faap and MBA courses at FGV.
source: Noticias
