“The dynamics of the European elections are much more complex,” Meloni told reporters at the artisans’ trade fair Artigiano in Fiera.

“You can be part of different European political families and govern very well in Italy and, I would go further, try to govern together [with other right-wing parties] in a different Europe after the next European elections.”

The centre-right should be in Europe “with the perimeter we already know in Italy”, she added.

“Our goal must be to further Italy’s role in Europe and to think about building a majority in the European Parliament that might have more vision than we have seen in the past,” concluded Meloni.

The PM heads a coalition government comprising her own right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI), the right-wing League led by Deputy PM Matteo Salvini and centre-right Forza Italia (FI) led by other Deputy PM Antonio Tajani.

Forza Italia is a member of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the League belongs to the European party Identity and Democracy and FdI is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.

Salvini has been pressing hard for an alliance between the EPP and parties like his right-wing League so it is not necessary for it to agree a new pact with the Socialists.

However, Tajani has ruled out teaming up with groups considered by some to be far right, such as Germany’s AfD and France’s National Rally.

ANSA