Former general Roberto Vannacci left the League on Feb. 3 and announced plans to found Futuro Nazionale a week after trademarking its logo. Vannacci, known for hardline rhetoric on migrants, LGBTQ people and minorities, was recruited by Matteo Salvini as deputy chief but remained factional within the party. Polls suggest he could take around 2% of the vote — unlikely to win seats alone but potentially enough to dent Giorgia Meloni's coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
Ex-General Roberto Vannacci Splits From Italy's League to Launch Far-Right 'Futuro Nazionale', Threatening Meloni's Vote Share
FILE PHOTO: General Roberto Vannacci speaks on stage at the annual League party rally in Pontida, Italy, September 21, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo
Former army general Roberto Vannacci on Feb. 3 left the League parliamentary group and announced plans to create a new far-right formation called Futuro Nazionale (National Future). The move — coming a week after he trademarked the group's logo — could siphon votes from Italy's governing coalition and complicate Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's re-election prospects.
From Military Figure To Party Founder
Vannacci rose to prominence around two years ago by championing what he described as traditional Italian values while attacking LGBTQ people, migrants, minorities and feminists. Although his rhetoric cost him his military career, League leader Matteo Salvini brought him into the party and appointed him deputy chief in an effort to energize the party's base.
Internal Tensions And Independent Path
Rather than fully integrating into the League, Vannacci maintained an independent profile: building a faction inside the party, staging rallies outside Salvini's direct control and resisting conventional party obligations such as contributing to party finances. On X (formerly Twitter), Vannacci wrote,
"No boxer wins a fight by throwing moderate hooks,"vowing to lead an uncompromising right-wing movement.
Political Impact And Polling
Pollsters estimate Vannacci could attract up to about 2% of the vote — a level unlikely to win parliamentary seats on its own but potentially decisive if it draws support away from Meloni's Brothers of Italy and the League. "On paper the centre-left and centre-right camps are quite close together, so taking even two percentage points away from the right could be very relevant," said Lorenzo Pregliasco of YouTrend.
Salvini publicly expressed his disappointment on X, accusing Vannacci of betrayal and reminding him that "honour, discipline and loyalty" should matter to former uniformed personnel. Salvini had hoped Vannacci would broaden the League's appeal; the general did help the party reach about 9% in the 2024 European elections.
What’s Next
The next national election is scheduled for 2027. For now, Vannacci's split introduces a new variable on Italy's right, one that could reshape alliances and voter shares ahead of the next national vote.
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