Boat migrants from sub-Saharan Africa attempting to reach Italy, stopped by the Tunisian Coast Guard off Sfax on 18 April 2024. Photo: AP / NTB.

A poll recently conducted by Euromedia Research in Italy shows that 37 per cent of respondents support general ideas of remigration, while 73 per cent believe that illegal immigrants must be removed from the country, reports Il Giornale.

The politician, author and former general Roberto Vannacci is perhaps the foremost exponent of remigration in Italy, and, like other advocates of such a policy, he has called for the expulsion of foreigners who are residing illegally in Italy, who have committed crimes or who do not integrate, for example into the labour market or Italian values.

Vannacci was long a prominent politician in Lega, but has broken with Matteo Salvini’s party and founded his own party, Futuro Nazionale (FN), in February. He became a national celebrity in 2023 with the book «Il mondo al contrario» (The World Backwards), in which, in hard-hitting style, he railed against everything he believes is wrong with society. The book was both loved and hated, and sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

Roberto Vannacci addresses a meeting of his party, Futuro Nazionale, in Rome on 14 June 2026. Photo: Gregorio Borgia / AP / NTB,

The poll on remigration is therefore a powerful encouragement for the formerly highly decorated career soldier. There is also a recent political opinion poll from BiDiMedia in which Futuro Nazionale receives 6.2 per cent support, while Lega has fallen to 5.7 per cent.

In France, a recent poll showed that 83 per cent of respondents support remigration. The idea is not as popular in Italy, which has experienced less migration than France.

As regards the subject of «remigration», however, 36.8% support Roberto Vannacci’s ideas, while 44.4% disagree with them and as many as 56.8% consider them unrealistic.

But the general apparently believes that the idea will mature and that time is on his side.

Alessandra Ghisleri, head of Euromedia Research, tells Il Giornale:

«There is broad agreement, across the political camps, that illegal immigration must be dealt with firmly […] a significant proportion of centre-left voters also share this view».

Vannacci’s advance could create complications for Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government, above all for its attempt to secure re-election in 2027. If Lega permanently loses support to Futuro Nazionale, it is uncertain whether the coalition, which also includes Forza Italia (FI) and the Prime Minister’s party, Fratelli d’Italia (FdI), will obtain a parliamentary majority at the next election.

If Vannacci’s support is needed to cobble together a majority, it may prove difficult to reach an agreement with Forza Italia, which takes a less hard-line approach to immigration policy than its partners.

Nor would it be easy for a motley alliance of the left and the Five Star Movement to present a united political front. A number of contentious issues divide those who want to remove Meloni from government, not least their views on the war in Ukraine.