Eurosceptics in Power: Analysis of the Italian “Government of Change” Policy

This article considers the domestic and foreign policy of the fi rst populist government in the history of Italy (the First G. Conte Government) in the context of the political phenomenon of Euroscepticism.The authors perform a comparative analysis of the Eurosceptic rhetoric of the parts of the First Conte Government – League and Five Star Movement – based on the program documents of the parties. The main attention is paid to the position of the Coalition Government on key issues of relations with the European Union. The authors conclude that the First Conte Government defended the national interests of Italy in the spirit of Eurosceptic ideology, which was manifested in the approach to migrants, in the defense of political and monetary sovereignty, in the desire to build an independent foreign policy course. The study also describes the policy of the "Government of Change" in the context of the modern theory of Euroscepticism. The authors conclude that First Conte Government
can be characterized as populist with elements of moderate strategic Euroscepticism.