Russia is splitting Italy’s opposition — media

The European Parliament vote on a resolution condemning Russian attacks in the Black Sea exposed a deep rift in Italy’s foreign policy and threatened the formation of a united opposition coalition. Source: Decode39

During the European Parliament session, an overwhelming majority of political groups backed a document calling for enhanced security and the possible deployment of NATO forces to protect shipping. However, two Italian forces—the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) and the far-right group led by General Roberto Vannacci—voted against it.

The move prompted a wave of sharp criticism from the reformist wing of Italy’s Democratic Party (PD), whose efforts to build a broad progressive opposition alliance were thwarted by its partners’ pro-Russian stance.

Democratic lawmakers publicly stated that refusing to condemn Vladimir Putin’s aggression and vote for European security was not open to political compromise. The resulting standoff showed that attitudes toward the Kremlin remain one of the most destabilizing fault lines in Italian politics, cutting across both the right and the left.

European experts and observers note that the presence of powerful pro-Moscow and anti-Western factions poses a serious strategic problem for Rome. Ahead of future general elections, the opposition’s inability to forge a united position on defense, military aid to Ukraine, and countering Russia’s hybrid threats highlights the fragility of its foundations. For Italy’s international partners in the EU and NATO, the continued influence of the Conte and Vannacci groups signals that the country’s foreign policy orientation remains the subject of fierce domestic political struggle.

Let us recall, Russia uses its diplomatic corps in Italy for espionage.