The long-anticipated triumph of right-wing and populist parties in Italy's elections has charged fears by many across Europe that Italy could be the next member state after the United Kingdom to hold a referendum on its membership of the European Union.
Polling has shown the Italian public to be the most Eurosceptic of any country in the European Union with nearly 60 percent of respondents professing to hold a negative view of Brussels in 2016.
The leader of the right-wing League Party, Matteo Salvini is now touted as the likely next Prime Minister of Italy. Mr. Salvini has repeatedly advocated for refugees who have arrived from North Africa to be deported en-masse from the country.
The populist Five Star Movement appears to be the largest party in the new Parliament but however forms Government will need to enter into coalition with more traditional center-right parties such as the Forza Italia party of long-time Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr. Salvini has also built a political platform based on challenging the clout of Brussels and defying policies decided by the two European heavy-weights of Germany and France. Lega Nord and other right-wing Italian parties have also encouraged Italy to abandon the euro-currency. The party has however so far stopped short of calling for Italy to exit the European Union altogether.
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