Giorgia Meloni is rewriting the rulebook of Italian politics, rising from a controversial past to become the country's first-ever female prime minister. But her journey hasn't been a smooth ride. Known for her right-wing stance, Meloni’s early ties to neo-fascism and past praise for the brutal dictator Benito Mussolini has earned fierce criticism.
At 47, Meloni has successfully led the Brothers of Italy party to victory, securing 26% of the vote in the 2022 elections—an incredible leap from just 4.3% four years earlier. With a unique mix of nationalism, conservatism, and a knack for keeping a steady political hand, Meloni has shocked the political world. Despite her party's far-right rhetoric, she’s managed to walk the fine line of diplomacy, gaining the trust of leaders from Brussels to Washington, including billionaire Elon Musk.
Meloni’s brand of leadership is as bold as it is divisive. She often champions the slogan "God, Fatherland, and Family," and her policies on migration and LGBTQ+ rights have caused a stir across Europe. Yet, what’s most surprising? Her ability to push these policies through without receiving the harsh condemnation expected from the EU. In fact, many European leaders have come to accept her as a representative of a far-right shift sweeping both Europe and the United States.
But don’t expect her to back down anytime soon. Critics predicted infighting within her right-wing coalition would unravel her leadership, but Meloni has proven her critics wrong, consolidating power and giving Italy one of the most stable governments in decades. She’s even maintained a surprisingly strong position on foreign policy, sticking to NATO alliances and European Union commitments despite the right-wing leanings of her coalition partners.
In her speeches, Meloni confidently stands firm in her values—“Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby,” she declared in Spain last year. She’s made it clear that she’s not afraid to push boundaries, especially on issues like migration and gender ideology. As Italy’s “alpha” woman in charge, Giorgia Meloni is shaking up not only Italian politics but also the broader European political landscape—making waves in a time when far-right voices are louder than ever.
