As the far right made significant gains in local elections in Germany, divisions have opened up within Italy's political right.
The AfD (Alternative for Germany) took 43.8 per cent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a historic result that has shaken the federal government in Berlin. The shockwave reached Rome, where reaction from Italy's governing parties was sharply divided.
Sunday's election result in Saxony-Anhalt is "a worrying signal", said Forza Italia leader and foreign minister Antonio Tajani. "A negative signal," he added, although there is no need to "overdramatise" it, he told Il Messaggero.
"It was widely expected — it was known that the AfD could score a clear victory. After all, most of their success comes in eastern Germany," said the deputy prime minister. "That region is the poorest part of Germany, and extremism always takes root where there are the greatest economic difficulties."
Transport and infrastructure minister Matteo Salvini took a very different view. "An extraordinary success, which highlights the strong demand for change, security and jobs," the League leader said in a post on X.
