As world leaders convene in Puglia, Italy, Rishi Sunak heads a roster of figures with widely unfavorable ratings across the globe.
At the G7 summit, Rishi Sunak is set to encounter several of the world’s least popular leaders, yet none match the disapproval ratings of the British Prime Minister.
This implies that Mr. Sunak may secure at least one victory this year as he approaches the looming challenge of the July general election.
Meeting his host Giorgia Meloni, who recently clinched a resounding victory in European elections, elevating her international sway, Mr. Sunak might understandably feel a tinge of envy.
However, beyond Ms. Meloni’s prominent role in the European campaign, he will find himself amidst a gloomy gathering of counterparts.
He might have anticipated the G7 to inject some foreign allure and weight to divert attention from his domestic challenges.
However, Mr. Sunak now leads a procession of faltering figures, among them Emmanuel Macron of France.
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally achieved a sweeping triumph in the European elections, garnering nearly double the votes of Mr. Macron’s party.
Ms. Le Pen has proposed an alliance with Ms. Meloni, who acknowledged having “points in common” with the hard-right leader.
Similar to Mr. Sunak, the French president has called for a surprise snap election in July, potentially leaving him stripped of many powers and facing the prospect of a National Rally prime minister.
Like the British Prime Minister, he risks significant backlash from his constituents. According to Telegraph calculations, the centrist leader’s net approval rating (approval voters minus disapproval voters) stands at -31 percent.
Germany’s Olaf Scholz arrives after overseeing his center-left SPD to their poorest European election results to date.
Despite being embroiled in a series of scandals, the Chancellor was defeated by the center-right CDU and the pro-Putin and extremist Alternative for Germany.
Now, Mr. Scholz is under pressure to dissolve his unpopular coalition government and call for a snap election, following the lead of Mr. Macron and Mr. Sunak.
His staggering approval rating stands at -51 percent, although it still falls short of Mr. Sunak’s substantial -54 percent.
In polling for the US presidential elections this November, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are neck and neck, despite Mr. Trump’s recent federal convictions.
Mr. Biden arrives in Puglia amid his son Hunter’s federal gun charges, holding a comparatively positive net rating of -18.5 percent.
Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Japan’s Fumio Kishida also face challenges, with ratings of -38 and -40 percent respectively.
The upcoming G7 summit is poised to center on discussions regarding a plan to utilize interest from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. Additionally, leaders will urge China to cease its support for Russia and condemn Beijing’s anti-competitive economic policies.
This presents a favorable opportunity for Mr. Sunak to assert statesmanlike criticism rather than being its recipient.
On the sidelines, EU leaders may convene to discuss the allocation of the bloc’s top positions following European elections that witnessed significant gains for the hard-right while maintaining a strong pro-EU center.
None of the assembled leaders have an interest in allowing this summit to become a foreign setback exacerbating their domestic challenges.
The warmth of Puglia’s sun and the camaraderie of fellow world leaders in the public eye should offer some welcome respite from the criticisms and challenges they face at home.
For Ms. Meloni, however, it marks another pinnacle in a week of achievements.
