Italy has won migration. It’s aiming for Europe next

There’s a far-right wind blowing in support of Giorgia Meloni.

In one corner: Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and a coterie of conservatives sensing an opportunity.

In the other: Germany, Olaf Scholz, and a fractious coalition on the left.

The two combatants were battling over a deal to reshape, for the first time in years, how the EU welcomes and relocates migrants. And the talks were on the brink of failing, just as they had for years. Italy wanted more authority to remove rejected asylum seekers. Germany was worried it would create human rights violations.

But this time, when Italy and the conservatives didn’t budge, Germany and the left blinked.

It was a telling moment. Germany, the EU’s most populated country and its largest economy, often gets what it wants when negotiating in Brussels. Italy, with its constantly changing governments, doesn’t.

This time, however, the ground had shifted. Europe’s traditional center-right conservatives were now willing to caucus with Meloni, who leads a post-fascist party in Italy, ditching the doubts that had long kept the far-right isolated. Meanwhile, centrist and left-leaning countries like the Netherlands and Denmark had come around to Italy’s thinking — and Germany was too splintered internally to do anything about it.

The realignment is not limited to migration. It’s playing out across a number of issues, most notably including the EU’s climate plans. And it might herald a new era in Europe.

Across the Continent, a growing number of centrist and center-right parties are showing a willingness to work with — and even form governments with — far-right parties. And in the coming months, the far-right is poised to make gains in places like Spain.

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