Roberto Vannacci, a former Italian general, established the National Future political party in February. Mr. Vannacci, who is now a Member of the European Parliament, founded the party after gaining notoriety from a far-right book he published in 2023, titled "The World Turned Upside Down." This publication led to a disciplinary inquiry and his suspension from the army.
National Future advocates for policies described as pro-Putin, anti-Ukraine, and anti-EU, alongside a commitment to restoring Italy's "cultural homogeneity" through the expulsion of immigrants and their descendants. The party argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition government has not been extreme enough for its far-right supporters.
Current polls indicate National Future is positioned just behind Forza Italia, the second-largest party in Ms. Meloni's coalition, and ahead of the League, its third main component. Mr. Vannacci has also stated he is open to the idea of receiving funding from Moscow and Beijing.