NNA - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the European elections had consolidated the solidity of her government after her Brothers of Italy (FdI) party came first in Italy with almost 29% of the vote. 
    "Italy can present itself at the G7 and in Europe with the strongest government of all," said Meloni, who will chair the 2024 G7 summit in Puglia this week with Italy holding the duty presidency of the group of most advanced economies. 
    "It is a source of satisfaction and a great responsibility too. 
    "In our case, they saw us coming, but they still couldn't stop us," she added. 
    FdI's share of the vote was even better than the 26% it won in the 2022 general election that thrust her to power. 
    "It's an even more beautiful night than two years ago," Meloni said in an address early on Monday after the first projections. 
    Within the ruling centre-right alliance, the projections put Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's Forza Italia (FI) and Noi Moderati on 9.2%, ahead of Transport Minister Matteo Salvini's League on 8.5%. 
    It was the first nationwide vote since the death last year of FI's founder, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi. 
    Salvini, who, like Tajani, is also deputy premier, said the League's showing in the vote had been much better than expected, despite it being down slightly on the 8.8% it won in the 2022 general election and even though the party was overtaken by FI. 
    Salvini also expressed bitterness that League founder and former leader Umberto Bossi had reportedly said he would not be voting for it, instead opting for a former Leaguer now in FI. 
    "For the past year everyone had been giving us up for dead, but we are alive and kicking," Salvini said at the party headquarters in Milan. 
    "We are alive, although certainly with some oddities, with the former party secretary saying the day before the vote that he would vote for another party. 
    "'I thank those who have never betrayed (us), I do not like those who run away and change colours, according to convenience. 
    "The League was founded 40 years ago and will still be here in 40 years time. 
    "I don't want to hurt anyone and I even named my book after Bossi, but I definitely will have to listen to what the militants say (about it). 
    "Our political movement is growing despite the fact that its founder announced that he was voting for another party, a curious thing. 
    'It's not an act of disrespect to the incumbent secretary, but to an entire community". 
    Salvini agreed with Meloni that the elections had "strengthened" the government, stressing the balance of power within it had not changed. 
    "What I hope can change is European politics," he added. "I hope to see a (ruling) centre right in Europe too. 
    "I'll be in Brussels on Wednesday to work on this," he said, referring to a meeting with Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally (RN) party triumphed in France and is the League's ally at the EU level in the ID group. 
    Tajani expressed satisfaction after his FI party improved after getting just over 8% in the 2022 general election, adding that it was aiming to reach the 20% mark at the next one. 
    "We are close to the target we had set," Tajani, who has spoken of reaching double figures, said at the party headquarters, dedicating the showing to Berlusconi. 
    "In the (next) general elections we aim to reach 20%. 
    "It's an extraordinary result, Forza Italia is growing compared to the last election. 
    "It is a a victory that we dedicate to Premier Silvio Berlusconi, to all those who have never stopped believing in our colours. 
    "As of tonight, the centre right and the EPP (European People's Party) are stronger".--ANSA 

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