Europe
2 min de lecture
The rivalry between France and Italy, as seen by Meloni
The Italian prime minister uses France's current difficulties in her speeches to highlight the successes of her own policies, positioning herself as a model for a segment of France's far right.
As 2025 draws to a close, when Italians look across the border, they can finally say that the tables have turned. Once associated with political instability, Italy is now governed by a cohesive coalition led by far-right leader Giorgia Meloni. Three years after coming to power, as a strong prime minister increasingly drifting toward authoritarianism, she garners voting intentions hovering above 30%. Marked by illiberal tendencies, her government has become one of the most stable Italy has seen in years, while on the other side of the Alps, France is gripped by a series of political crises.
The same is true from a fiscal perspective. Since 1980, Italy has struggled with massive debt (135% of GDP in 2024) and a public deficit that has undermined market confidence. But the Meloni government reduced the deficit to 3.4% of GDP in 2024. Credit rating agencies raised Italy's rating despite its structural weaknesses, while Fitch and Standard & Poor's downgraded France's. Meanwhile, as Paris continues its withdrawal from Africa, Meloni embarked on an ambitious diplomatic push toward the continent. With promises of aid and the prevention of illegal migration, this plan is taking shape.
This flattering comparison opens a new chapter in the ongoing rivalry that has shaped relations between the two countries. South of the Alps, the existence of a rivalry with France, linked to what is seen as Paris's unfair dominance, is widely acknowledged. In France, this is largely ignored. In fact, while most French people have a favorable view of Italians, the reverse is not always true. The results of an Ipsos opinion poll presented on November 26 during the Franco-Italian Dialogues for Europe, organized at Luiss-Guido-Carli University in Rome with Sciences Po, illustrate this point. While 60% of French respondents felt affection for Italy, only 30% of Italians felt the same toward France, with 20% openly expressing antipathy. This was often attributed to a perception of French arrogance, despite strong cultural ties.
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