Forza Italia is publicly dismissing the defection of two deputies to Roberto Vannacci's Futuro Nazionale, but remarks attributed to Marina Berlusconi have opened a new front of criticism—aimed not at the departing legislators, but at the party's own former leadership. The June 6 announcement that Attilio Pierro and Davide Bergamini had switched allegiances brings Vannacci's parliamentary caucus to eight deputies and exposes deepening fractures within Italy's center-right coalition.
Why This Matters
• Eight deputies now sit under Futuro Nazionale's banner following a wave of defections from both Forza Italia and Lega, signaling erosion within the governing coalition.
• Marina Berlusconi's criticism of former Forza Italia group leaders Maurizio Gasparri and Paolo Barelli suggests internal blame for recruitment mistakes, a rare public airing of intra-party grievances.
• Vannacci's party claims 94,000 members and polls between 3% and 6% nationally, positioning it as a potential spoiler in the 2027 general election.
• The party's constituent assembly on June 13–14, 2026 will formalize its structure and test its ability to challenge both Giorgia Meloni's government and the broader European political order.
Berlusconi Family Dismisses Defections, Blames Internal Failures
Sources close to Arcore—the historic Berlusconi family estate—confirmed that Marina Berlusconi, eldest daughter of the late Silvio Berlusconi, remains untroubled by the exodus of Pierro and Bergamini. In remarks relayed through intermediaries, she attributed the departures to "mistaken choices of the past" made by previous parliamentary group leaders who allegedly admitted individuals incompatible with Forza Italia's founding principles.
The targets of that criticism are widely understood to be Maurizio Gasparri and Paolo Barelli, both regarded as loyalists of current party leader Antonio Tajani. Neither Gasparri nor Barelli has responded publicly, but the veiled rebuke underscores tensions between Marina Berlusconi's vision of a liberal, pro-European Forza Italia and a faction she perceives as having diluted the party's ideological coherence.
Marina Berlusconi holds no formal political office but wields considerable moral authority within the party her father founded. Sources describe her view of Vannacci as sharply negative, citing what she considers his "racist and anti-European" stances. Despite this, she has reiterated her intention not to interfere directly in party strategy—a posture that leaves Tajani free to navigate the fallout while the Berlusconi name casts a long shadow.
Vannacci Celebrates "Landing" in Viareggio
Speaking at a press conference in Viareggio, Tuscany, on June 6, Vannacci framed the defections in triumphalist terms. "June 6 marks the Normandy landings; today we celebrate the landing in Futuro Nazionale," he declared, welcoming not only Pierro and Bergamini but also Domenico Furgiuele and Gianangelo Bof from the Lega, plus economist and former MEP Antonio Maria Rinaldi, who has also severed ties with Matteo Salvini's party.
The former paratrooper general—who left the Lega in February 2026 after clashing with its leadership—now commands a parliamentary group that includes Laura Ravetto, Emanuele Pozzolo, Rossano Sasso, and Edoardo Ziello. The party's rapid membership growth, from 80,000 in late May to 94,000 by early June, suggests organizational momentum that extends beyond Rome's legislative chambers.
Vannacci dismissed suggestions that Futuro Nazionale is poaching lawmakers, insisting the defectors approached him because they "believe in the project." He cited interest from mayors, municipal councilors, and regional representatives, though he declined to confirm whether senators would soon join the fold. "We'll see what happens," he said.
Red Lines and Coalition Calculus
Futuro Nazionale positions itself as a sovereigntist, nationalist, and Eurosceptic force further to the right than Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia or Salvini's Lega. Its platform emphasizes "Italy first, then the State and Institutions, and finally, as long as the interests of these two subjects are safeguarded, the Law"—a hierarchy that subordinates legal norms to national interest.
Core policy planks include remigration (the return of immigrants to their countries of origin), opposition to birthright citizenship, defense of "Roman-Christian roots," rejection of EU Green Deal mandates, and an end to military aid for Ukraine. The party also opposes abortion, euthanasia, and what Vannacci terms "gender" and "woke" ideologies.
Vannacci made clear that any coalition with the current center-right government depends on strict adherence to his red lines. "Coalitions are built on programmatic points and ideals," he said. "If they align, anything is possible. But that is the limit beyond which we will not go." He also criticized Marina Berlusconi for commenting on Forza Italia's affairs "when she doesn't hold a political role."
The party plans to introduce parliamentary amendments advocating for preferential voting in electoral law—allowing citizens to choose specific candidates rather than accepting party-selected lists—and for digital signature collection for party registration, both measures intended to weaken the grip of party secretariats.
Impact on Coalition Stability and 2027 Elections
The defections pose a subtle but measurable threat to the stability of Meloni's center-right majority. While Futuro Nazionale's eight deputies voted confidence in the government, they broke ranks on Ukraine aid, signaling independence that could complicate legislative arithmetic on sensitive issues.
Polls placing Futuro Nazionale at 3% to 6% suggest it could siphon votes primarily from the Lega, which has struggled to maintain its hard-right identity while governing alongside more centrist partners. Saverio Romano, coordinator of the junior coalition partner Noi Moderati, issued a sharp response: "The positions expressed by General Vannacci are evidently irreconcilable with the values and objectives of the center-right coalition. A Europeanist vision inspired by popular values has nothing to do with the extremism and isolationism of Futuro Nazionale."
Alberto Stefani, president of the Veneto Region and a Lega figure, deflected blame for Vannacci's initial entry into his party. "Looking back is always easy," he said. "The mistake is never made by those who let someone in, but by those who choose to switch parties, not respecting the mandate of voters."
What This Means for Italy's Political Landscape
For residents and observers of Italian politics, Futuro Nazionale's rise represents a stress test for the center-right coalition's cohesion. The party's June 13–14 constituent assembly in Rome—to which Vannacci has invited representatives from "the extreme left to the extreme right"—will clarify its organizational structure, which early drafts suggest will be highly centralized under Vannacci's personal control.
The defections also highlight the vulnerability of both Forza Italia and the Lega to ideological fragmentation. Forza Italia faces internal debate over its liberal, pro-European identity versus the more populist currents that entered during past alliances. The Lega, meanwhile, must contend with a rival that explicitly outflanks it on immigration, sovereignty, and cultural conservatism.
Whether Futuro Nazionale evolves into a durable political force or a transient vehicle for Vannacci's personal brand will become clearer in the coming months. For now, it occupies a niche that neither Meloni nor Salvini can easily reclaim: uncompromising nationalism paired with charismatic leadership unburdened by the responsibilities of governing. The 2027 general election may determine whether that niche is large enough to reshape Italy's right—or merely fragment it further.
