Hours after Giorgia Meloni’s victory, Francesca, originally from Italy, described waking in Rimini tired with a sore throat, after traveling nearly eight hours to vote in her municipality. She spoke of the moment with frustration, saying the outcome felt useless when the Democratic Party and its allies did not deliver. Meloni and her brothers of Italy won the election, and for Francesca the sense of loss was overwhelming.
Despair, fear, frustration, confusion, and anger are common emotions among a segment of the population that feels left behind by the far-right victory this week. For many, the moment carries real weight. The country’s future, the civil rights won so far and those still claimed, foreign policy regarding the war in Ukraine, and the economy are central concerns. A diverse group of activists, feminists, members of the LGBTI+ community, immigrants, and Democrats from the left express these worries as they watch the political landscape shift.
“I am scared”
Antonella Giorgetti, 65, has spent 35 years in politics. She recalls the lineage of Italian leftist parties from the Italian Communist Party to the Left Democrats and now the PD. She notes the fear that the country may slide back toward fascist tendencies, even if the topic sounds historical, because the damage could feel present today.
“I’m more afraid for the economy. People who claim to know everything often don’t,” Giorgetti says. She has been a long-time advocate, and Rossella Coltorti, 56, who aligns with the PD bases, shares a similar concern. “I wonder what will happen with abortion rights, with Ukraine, with immigrants. I am very worried. I am scared,” she confirms.
What does it mean to be on the left?
Alessio Tamburro, 26, represents a younger generation and a different viewpoint. “I don’t think fascism can return to Italy, but the pain is real. Meloni was in power when Italy faced financial stress, and there is skepticism about how new proposals from the right will be funded,” he says, a Political Science student who reflects on past leadership during economic crises.
Johnny Valdivia, 50, a Peruvian who has spent half his life in Italy, offers another angle. “For immigrants, not much will change with Meloni. There will still be cheap labor, and some jobs Italians don’t want to do will continue to attract two-euro-an-hour wages,” he notes. He adds a cautious warning: if rights are attacked, he would take to the streets to protest. His comment also suggests a broader warning about any alliance among parties seen as untrustworthy in the elections.
The election results have sparked a wave of criticism toward the PD. The party faced a political earthquake after a challenging period, and top leaders signaled a need for change in direction.
All against all in PD
The political atmosphere is tense as parties search for accountability and leadership. Information about potential successors to the current leadership contributed to a climate of internal competition. Some voters feel their leaders focus more on power than on addressing citizens’ problems. The situation has shaped the party’s identity in meaningful ways.
Tamburro speaks with passion. “After years of militancy, I still don’t know what it means to be on the left, and I don’t think it’s my fault,” he says. “Our party no longer knows how to talk to people. Meloni’s ability to connect with voters and her sharper rhetoric make her seem more effective,” adds Giorgetti. Coltorti agrees, noting a loss of power and trust.
Beyond internal party dynamics, the electoral shift has spurred broader social actions. Feminist collectives, such as Ni Una Menos, gathered on a Wednesday to protest in several cities for abortion rights. Just a day later, a regional administration in Liguria passed a resolution supporting access to abortion, signaling that rights remain an active and contested area in Italian public life. This momentum highlights how the election reverberates through civil society, prompting demonstrations and policy conversations across the country. [Citation: Italian political climate post-election]”}