Meloni faces criticism and praise at Cernobbio, Salvini cheers AfD win

At the Cernobbio forum on September 6, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faced both criticism from the center-left and praise from allies, while her coalition partner Matteo Salvini celebrated the far-right AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Center-left leaders proposed policies to revive the country, arguing that Meloni has failed, while a poll reportedly showed strong support for Meloni and weak opposition. Meloni's sister Arianna defended the government's stability as a success for all Italians, and Meloni herself surpassed 7 million followers on Facebook, with reports suggesting she now targets French President Macron. Meanwhile, Salvini's enthusiasm for the AfD caused tensions within the center-right coalition, as Meloni and Tajani expressed concerns about the German party.