Top candidate of the Fratelli d'Italia party and probably future Prime Minister of Italy

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Meloni party is clearly ahead – alliance with Berlusconi and Salvini likely.

For the first time since the end of the Second World War, the country is likely to have a right-wing nationalist government. The ghost of “Il Duce," the infamous dictator Benito Mussolini on the prowl?

According to a projection by the broadcaster Rai, the right-wing alliance of three parties won the parliamentary elections in Italy, receiving 43.2 percent of the votes (as of 1:20 a.m.). However, this should be enough for most mandates due to a unique feature of Italian electoral law.

Right bang in Rome! It is a historic result; Giorgia Meloni (45) will probably be Italy's first prime minister.

The right-wing alliance around Matteo Salvini (Lega, left), Silvio Berlusconi, and Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d'Italia)

In addition to Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia, the probable government alliance includes the Forza Italia of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (85) and the Lega of former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini (49).

Election winner Meloni spoke early Monday morning of a "Night of Pride" and a "Night of Redemption." She told her followers that one was not at the place of arrival but at the home of departure.

The new parliament is scheduled to meet on October 13. However, it could be several weeks before the government is sworn in.

This is how the other parties fared.

The center-left party PD, around top candidate Enrico Letta (56) and the 5-star movement of former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (58), were unable to assert themselves.

︎ The left and center parties did not front against the right in the election campaign. According to the extrapolation, the electoral alliance of the Social Democrats with left-wing parties and the Greens came to 26.5 percent.

The right-wing alliance and top candidate Meloni went into the election day as the clear favorites, and most experts had already expected their victory in advance.

And yet: Around 20 percent of Italian voters were undecided until recently, and surprises were still possible.

The election became necessary because the previous head of government, Mario Draghi (75), resigned as prime minister in July after his broad government alliance broke. He will remain in office until the new government is sworn in.

Low turnout

Voter turnout on Sunday was historically low: after counting almost all votes, it was 64.07 percent. Fewer Italians went to the polls than ever before! Four years ago, 73.86 percent of all citizens had cast their votes.

"Today, you can help make history," Meloni addressed her followers again on Sunday morning on Twitter - ignoring a requirement to refrain from such statements the day before and on the day of the election.

The Ministry of the Interior will not announce the official election results until Monday.

In Brussels and other European capitals, many worry about a government by the Fratelli and Meloni. The "Brothers of Italy" are successors of a party founded by fascists.

Her political opponents accuse Meloni of never having wholly distanced herself from Mussolini's fascism. On the contrary, however, she condemned war, racial laws, and dictatorship.

In addition, the party leader repeatedly criticizes the EU. During the election campaign, she announced that she wanted to strengthen the transatlantic connection with the USA – Europe is of secondary importance to her. "Yes, to the sovereignty of the peoples! No to the bureaucrats in Brussels!" said Meloni in June at an event organized by the right-wing Spanish party Vox.