Italy's Meloni sees 'irreconcilable differences' with Germany's AfD

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees "irreconcilable differences" between her far-right Brothers of Italy party and the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

She used the phrase in a news conference in Rome on Thursday, which was meant to be her end-of-year event but was postponed due to illness.

When asked whether she could imagine an alliance with the AfD and the French National Rally in Europe, she said it was clear that there were insurmountable disagreements with the AfD, starting with relations with Russia.

In May, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence service said
the AfD is instrumental it spreading Russian propaganda. In France, the far right has in some senses been trying to distance itself from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meloni also pointed out that neither the AfD nor Marine Le Pen's National Rally are members of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) in the European Parliament. They instead form part of the Identity and Democracy group, which is viewed as further to the right than the ECR.

"I don't give out grades, but there are more or less differences with some. I work with the ECR," said Meloni.