Southern Europe in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
Southern Europe in May 2026 was dominated by relations with Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on 7 May and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi the next day, after President Donald Trump had publicly criticised the pope. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Rubio that the United States needs Italy and Europe, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described Trump as a father figure to be listened to. Trump also said the US could withdraw troops from Italy and Spain; Meloni rejected his accusations and opposed US disengagement from Europe, and Spain's government rejected the threat.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rome on 19 and 20 May, meeting Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. The two countries raised their ties to a strategic partnership, with cooperation planned on artificial intelligence, space and the IMEC Economic Corridor. The Gaza aid flotilla also featured. Spain and Brazil demanded the release of their nationals detained by Israel, Spain summoned the Israeli envoy, and Meloni called the treatment of activists unacceptable. Italy pressed for EU sanctions on Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, though it declined to sanction Israel itself.
In Italy, local elections were held in about 700 towns on 25 May; Meloni said the predicted collapse of the centre right had been postponed. She asked the EU to relax fiscal rules for energy spending and warned Italy could withdraw from the EU's SAFE defence programme without budget flexibility. A League lawmaker was suspended after invoking a fascist slogan at a rally for opposition leader Elly Schlein.
In Spain, the People's Party won the Andalusia election on 17 May but lost its absolute majority and must rely on Vox to govern. Corruption investigations then pressed on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez: police raided the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid on 27 and 28 May, and a probe touched former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero over Venezuela and China dealings. Elsewhere, Malta's Labour Party won a fourth consecutive term in a snap election on 31 May, Greece demanded an apology from Ukraine over a drone incident.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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