The general the FT called Russia's “Trojan horse”
On 2 September, the Financial Times called Roberto Vannacci Russia's "Trojan horse" in an analysis of Italian politics.
Vannacci is a retired general, an MEP and leader of Futuro Nazionale. The newspaper linked the argument to his campaign against Italy's Ukraine policy and a 2021 Moscow trip to reopen military communication.
Vannacci rejected the description. In a public reply, he mocked being cast as a "Manchurian candidate" sent by Russia to complain about petrol prices. On television, he called himself pro-Italian, not pro-Russian.
His wife, Camelia Mihailescu, joined the reply on 3 September. In an ironic Instagram video, she toasted "my Russian friends, especially Vladimir, and the Italian Trojan horse."
Separately, Rome's military prosecutor ordered preliminary checks on serving Armed Forces personnel inside the party. The office said no criminal case was opened against Vannacci, no formal entry was made in the criminal register and the checks do not concern Russia.
The party's position is public. Its parliamentary group opposed further military and financial support for Ukraine. Its programme calls for reopening purchases of Russian gas at advantageous prices.
The clearest development is electoral. An SWG poll for Tg La7, conducted from 26 to 31 August and published on 1 September, put Futuro Nazionale on 7.5% and Forza Italia on 7.1%.
That is a snapshot, not an election result. But it places Vannacci's new party ahead of Forza Italia, founded by Silvio Berlusconi in 1994 and now part of Giorgia Meloni's governing coalition.
The claim belongs to the Financial Times. The reply belongs to Vannacci. The closing fact is the poll: 7.5% to 7.1%.
Financial Times; European Parliament; Chamber of Deputies; Futuro Nazionale programme; Rome Military Prosecutor's statement via Adnkronos; ANSA; SWG for Tg La7; Italian Foreign Ministry.
