How the Covid-19 Crisis has Changed the Europhile-Eurosceptic Equilibrium of the Italian Governing Parties: a two-act piece with an open-ended finale

This chapter analyses how the advent and development of the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the Europhile-Eurosceptic equilibrium of the Italian governing parties facing the emergency. Three different governments have come in succession over the last four years and the shifting alliances between Eurosceptic anti-system parties (M5S, Lega) and traditional pro-EU parties (PD) translated into changing approaches towards the EU. During the first year of the pandemic, the relationship between the Italian government and EU institutions was marked by numerous moments of tension and the initial lack of solidarity made Europeanism feel unreciprocated. A radical change occurred with the appointment of PM Draghi to lead a government of national unity, which saw the M5S position mitigating month by month and the Lega making a sudden U-turn to a utilitarian perspective. The Covid-19 crisis has also stimulated a degree of reflection among traditionally pro-EU parties, like the PD, leading the way to- wards a more critical Europeanism.