As the right-wing firebrand leader Giorgia Meloni is expected to become the next and first female prime minister of the European country, the political landscape in Italy is about to take a “right” shift.
According to the first exit polls, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party won the general election. According to national broadcaster RAI, the party received between 22% and 26% of the vote.
A right-wing coalition with her allies, Matteo Salvini’s far-right League and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, was expected to win a clear majority in both houses of parliament.
Meloni will become Italy’s first female prime minister
Mario Draghi resigned on July 21 after a populist party in his coalition government refused to support an economic package for businesses and families. Following his departure, early elections were held.
Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party is a descendant of the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI), founded by Giorgio Almirante, a minister under Benito Mussolini.
The FdI is leading an alliance that will form a government, making Meloni, 45, Italy’s first female prime minister.
Meloni refused to serve in Draghi’s “national unity” government last year, which worked out well for her party.
Who is Giorgia Meloni?
Meloni was born in Garbatella, a working-class neighborhood in Rome. She was the president of the National Alliance’s youth wing, which arose from MSI. She was also a youth minister in Berlusconi’s government from 2008 to 2011, before founding the Brothers of Italy.
Meloni, according to local media, has hardline views on mass immigration, is vehemently opposed to abortion, which she has described as a “defeat,” and opposes same-sex marriage and parenting.
She traveled to Marbella in June to deliver a divisive speech at a rally organized by her Spanish far-right counterpart, Vox. “Yes, to the biological family! LGBT lobbies must be rejected! “She allegedly yelled.
“The will of the people is expressed in one way: by voting,” she was quoted as saying. “Let’s give hope and strength back to Italy.”
She has also mentioned changing the Italian constitution to prioritize Italian law over European law.