A Wolf Coated by Sheep’s Skin? Fratelli d’Italia’s Nativism and Model Setting in the EU

Griffini, Marianna (2025) A Wolf Coated by Sheep’s Skin? Fratelli d’Italia’s Nativism and Model Setting in the EU. Populism.

Abstract

This paper examines the immigration discourse and policies of Italy’s populist radical right party Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) during the 2024 European Parliament elections. Despite extensive research on FdI’s nativism, its deployment in EU elections remains underexplored. Using X (Twitter) posts and official videos, this study investigates how FdI embraced nativism in its immigration-related discourse and policy around the EU elections, and how it reconciled this stance with liberal values needed for reputability in EU circles. The paper explores the tension between FdI’s nativist anti-immigrant position and the need to maintain democratic credibility at the European level. Findings reveal that FdI navigates this tension by positioning itself as a role model for the EU in externalising migration management and fostering cooperation with African countries.

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