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Italy set to elect first far-right leader since Second World War

Leader of Italian far-right party
Giorgia Meloni casting her vote earlier today (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Italy’s political landscape could soon be drastically changed with a major win for far-right leader Giorgia Meloni.

A right-wing alliance led by the 45-year-old’s Brothers of Italy party looks set to win a majority in the next parliament, according to exit polls following today’s election.

State broadcaster RAI says the bloc of conservative parties have between 41 and 45% of votes – enough to guarantee control of both houses of parliament.

The Brothers of Italy party, which has been described as having ‘neo-fascist roots’, has previously been predicted the most popular among voters.

In what has been deemed a ‘political earthquake’ for Italy, Meloni could form the country’s first far-right-led government since the end of the Second World War.

‘Today you can help write history,’ she had tweeted earlier today.

Her right-wing party was forged from the legacy of a neo-fascist party formed shortly the war by nostalgists of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Running close behind in final opinion polls ahead of tonight was former Premier Enrico Letta and his center-left Democratic Party.

epa10206434 Polling station officials start to count ballots of the Italian general elections, at a polling station in Rome, Italy, 25 September 2022. Italy held snap general election on 25 September following Mario Draghi's resignation in July. Final results are expected to be announced on 26 September. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI
Exit polls have predicted a win for the conservative bloc of parties (Picture: EPA)
Leader of Italian far-right party
Giorgia Meloni could soon become the first female Premier of Italy (Picture: AFP)

Nearly 51 million Italians were eligible to vote Sunday.

The counting of paper ballots began shortly after polling stations closed at 11pm in Italy – 9pm in the UK.

This year’s election was set against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine – which has fuelled skyrocketing energy bills.

Italian businesses and households are struggling to pay gas and electricity bills, which in some cases are 10 times higher than last year’s.

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