STORY: The legal alliance around the post-fascist Giorgia Meloni clearly won the early parliamentary elections in Italy. According to preliminary election results, her Fratelli d’Italia party alone received almost 26 percent of the vote. Together with the extreme right-wing Lega of former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and the Forza Italia of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the bloc will have clear majorities in both chambers of the Italian parliament. The centre-left Partito Democratico party has admitted defeat and now wants to lead the opposition in parliament. Meloni spoke of a proud day for her party. The voters gave the right-wing parties a clear mandate to form the government. Now unity is required. “If we are called to govern this nation, we will do so for all Italians, with the aim of uniting the people, promoting what unites and not what divides.” On the streets of Rome early Monday morning, voters showed mixed feelings. “I’m quite happy. The important thing is that whoever wins has a chance to form a government. At the moment the results show that the winner can form a government.” “Well, I’m not a voter for the ‘Brothers of Italy’, so I can’t be happy. In my opinion, the centre-right government won’t last that long. I think there are too many internal divisions between Forza Italia, the Lega and the Fratelli d’Italia, so I don’t think this government will last for long.” Voter turnout was around 64 percent, according to preliminary information. Four years ago, 74 percent of eligible voters had cast their votes.