Giorgia Meloni, a far-right politician, has formally requested permission from the President to form a government, and she seems destined to rule Italy in the future.
Although Meloni and her post-fascist Brothers of Italy party won the election last month, they fell short of a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition with other parties, notably Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.
The 45-year-old told President Sergio Mattarella that discussions were over and that she was prepared to form an administration when she arrived at the Quirinal Palace on Friday morning.
With Mr. Mattarella’s assent, Ms. Meloni would become Italy’s first female leader, the country would have its first far-right administration since the Second World War, and Brothers of Italy would hold office for the first time.
Her appointment follows a period of political turbulence in Italy, during which shaky coalitions formed and disintegrated until technocrat Mario Draghi was chosen to run the country’s economy until elections could be conducted.
One frustrated retiree summarized the rationale for Ms. Meloni’s victory last month by telling journalists: “She’s the only one we haven’t tried yet, which means she’s the only one yet to fail.”
Meloni’s success, however, is not certain. She vehemently supports Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, while coalition allies Mr. Berlusconi and Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini have expressed support for Putin.
Leaked tape seems to reveal Berlusconi discussing his connections to Moscow and belief that Ukraine began the conflict, and it is said that tensions over the matter have hampered coalition discussions.
But he has been eager to assert in public that his ideas are identical to those of Ms. Meloni and the European Union.
Shared anti-European sentiments and a determination to significantly decrease immigration to Italy are what unite the three contenders.
Meloni’s coalition contends that the over 200 billion euros it expects to receive from the EU’s post-Covid recovery fund should take into consideration the present energy situation, which has been made worse by Moscow’s invasion.
However, the funds are contingent on a package of changes that departing Prime Minister Mario Draghi has just recently started, and experts claim she has little leeway.
Meloni’s campaign was based on the tenets of “God, country, and family,” which raised concerns about a possible erosion of liberties in the nation with a Catholic majority.
After admiring Benito Mussolini as a youth and her own neo-fascist history, she has distanced herself from both and positioned herself as a direct but non-threatening leader.
At the presidential palace in Rome today, Ms. Meloni spoke while being flanked by Mr. Salvini and Mr. Berlusconi. She said: “We have suggested myself as the person who should be authorized to build the next government.”
We are prepared and eager to get started as soon as feasible.
Ms. Meloni mentioned “pressing concerns at both national and international level,” which is likely a reference to the crisis in Ukraine and the skyrocketing energy costs that are affecting consumers and companies.
Mr. Salvini, the League’s leader, and Forza Italia president Mr. Berlusconi remained mute during Ms. Meloni’s short statements to reporters.
Premiered three times The election triumph of Ms. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party in the previous month has irked Mr. Berlusconi.
He recently mocked Ms. Meloni in writing, calling her “arrogant.” In a meeting with his lawmakers earlier this week, Mr. Berlusconi voiced support for Mr. Putin’s rationale for invading Ukraine.
Ms. Meloni underlined that anybody entering her cabinet must be firmly in sync with the West in opposing Putin’s war in reaction to Mr. Berlusconi’s remarks, which were also disparaging of Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky.
Ms. Meloni said that she would take the chance even if it meant that her administration could not be constituted.
Additionally, Mr. Salvini has sometimes questioned the need of strict Western sanctions against Russia.
The newly elected president of the lower Chamber of Deputies, a fellow lawmaker from Mr. Salvini’s League party, openly raised misgivings about the measures’ continuation.
The national pandemic unity coalition of outgoing premier Mario Draghi disintegrated in July when populist 5-Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte, Mr. Salvini, and Mr. Berlusconi declined to support his administration in a vote of confidence.
Mr. Mattarella was driven by this to dissolve the legislature and call for elections around six months early.
Mr. Draghi was in Brussels for the penultimate day of a European Council session while negotiations to establish the new government were still ongoing, debating how to handle rising energy costs.
Giorgia Meloni’s Italian Revolution: How the successful far-right leader has sworn to increase Italy’s population, stop migrant boat arrivals, and keep supporting Ukraine
With her tenacious campaign centered on “God, nation, and family,” she has gained the support of the Italian people.
And now that Giorgia Meloni’s party has overtaken it as the biggest in the nation, making her the presumed leader of a right-wing coalition, she has the ability to reshape the nation in her own image.
The single mother of one has endured criticism for being a neo-fascist and “heir to Mussolini,” but the firebrand has made an effort to ignore the criticism and win over all Italians.
She has attacked the EU and “woke ideology” throughout the race while emphasizing the value of religion and the family.
For criticizing the “LGBT lobby,” implying she is against abortions, and recommending a blockade of Libya to halt refugees from crossing the Mediterranean, she has courted controversy.
Her leadership may also be impacted by the sway of her small coalition allies, anti-immigrant Lega party head Matteo Salvini and more moderate Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi.