Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday that she would like to see the model of the Italian ruling coalition, featuring both right-wing and centre-right parties, tried at the EU level in view of next year’s European elections.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has been pressing hard for an alliance between the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and parties like his League group so it is not necessary for the EPP to agree a new pact with the Socialists.

But Meloni’s other deputy premier, Foreign Minister and centre-right Forza Italia (FI) leader Antonio Tajani, has ruled out the EPP teaming up with groups considered by some to be far right, such as Germany’s AfD and France’s National Rally.

“Aside from the different nuances of the (Italian) ruling-majority parties, which are a resource, the underlying cohesion is clear,” Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, told Rtl 102.5 radio.

“I think that we must in some way try to build what we have managed to do in Italy in Europe as well.

“Today we have a great opportunity.

“The possible scenario is one in which we manage to build a ruling-majority that is more compatible in terms of its vision in the European Parliament.

“We could end up with European institutions in which Italy counts for much more: that is my goal, the goal of the ruling majority”