Vannacci closes campaign in Reggio Calabria with attack on government's Ukraine policy
Roberto Vannacci brought his election campaign to Piazza Duomo in Reggio Calabria on Wednesday, standing before a crowd of roughly 500 supporters and curious onlookers in a city that has long been a stronghold of Forza Italia. The leader of Futuro Nazionale used the final rally to stake his claim as the authentic voice of the Italian right, drawing sharp contrasts with the governing coalition on issues from sovereignty to military aid for Ukraine.
The by-election on 27 and 28 September was triggered by the resignation of Forza Italia deputy Francesco Cannizzaro after his election as mayor of Reggio Calabria. Vannacci's movement is fielding Domenico Giannetta, a regional councillor who defected from Forza Italia shortly before the campaign began. The centre-right has nominated Fabio Roscioli, the party treasurer and a lawyer with ties to the Berlusconi family, while the centre-left has united behind Frank Benedetto, a cardiologist.
A test for the centre-right coalition
The vote has become a pressure point for the coalition supporting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Forza Italia polled above 30% in Calabria during the 2021 regional election, and party leaders fear that Vannacci's presence could split the right-wing vote and hand victory to the centre-left. Cannizzaro has told voters that supporting Roscioli amounts to "a vote of confidence in my person and my team."
Roberto Occhiuto, the governor of Calabria, attacked Giannetta directly, declaring that "battles are not won with mercenaries or traitors." Vannacci's supporters argue that Giannetta's roots in the area — he secured 10,000 preference votes in the Reggio constituency last year — contrast with what they describe as a candidate imposed from above.
Peace and the Ukraine question
Speaking from the stage, Vannacci outlined a foreign policy stance that places him at odds with Rome's current direction. He called for an end to weapons and money being sent to Ukraine, arguing that resources should instead go to Italian families, businesses and hospitals. "We want peace," he told the crowd in corso Garibaldi.
The position aligns with the platform Futuro Nazionale has built since its founding. National polling places the party above 7%. Vannacci has previously criticised aid to Kiev as counterproductive and has accused Ukrainian officials of misusing Western funds. The Meloni government, by contrast, has made support for Ukraine a governing priority, using confidence votes in Parliament to secure aid decrees.
A growing parliamentary presence
While the campaign unfolded in Calabria, Vannacci continued to expand his ranks in the Chamber of Deputies. The arrival of Sicilian deputy Tommaso Calderone from Forza Italia brought his total to nine representatives. Addressing the milestone on Sky TG24, Vannacci joked that "we have reached nine, like the circles of hell. So the tenth will be the devil himself."
He said the group's priority remains passing resolutions and amendments rather than simply building numbers. The comment came days after a separate television appearance in which Vannacci was asked about skirts and replied that he preferred "a woman without a skirt," remarks that drew criticism from opposition politicians. The Italian Bishops' Conference responded by stating that every word and gaze directed at women should be filled with respect.
What the vote means for alliances
Vannacci's rally in Piazza Duomo was not accidental. Forza Italia was the most voted party there in both municipal and regional elections. By choosing that location, Vannacci signalled to the broader centre-right that Futuro Nazionale intends to compete for the same electorate.
He told reporters his aim is not to oppose Forza Italia specifically but to promote his own movement. He defined his red lines as sovereignty, meritocracy and identity, and said his ambition is to "represent the Italian right." Asked about his former party, the League, Vannacci said he remains guided by the same principles and that if the League strays from those values, it is the League that will lose its way.
The by-election results will be read as an indication of whether Vannacci's movement can erode centre-right support without handing seats to the opposition. Roscioli has also received the backing of Luigi Marattin's Liberal Democratic Party. The centre-left candidate Benedetto has continued his campaign without matching the rhetorical intensity of his rivals.
