Giorgia Meloni, a woman, mother, Italian, and Christian, presented her personal and political ideology in a viral 2019 campaign rally. Referred to as the “heiress of Mussolini,” Meloni was seen as an alternative to corrupt politicians, unafraid to speak up on controversial issues. With roots in the Italian Social Movement, her party, Brothers of Italy, gained momentum amid the rise of conservative right in Europe.
In October 2022, Meloni came to power, emphasizing her identity as a woman, mother, Italian, and Christian. She has worked on her international profile, building good relations with leaders like Biden and von der Leyen. By hosting the G7 summit, she showcased a pragmatic approach while maintaining her identity policies.
Meloni has shown close bond with leaders like Rishi Sunak, but also faced disagreements, as seen in a cold greeting with Emmanuel Macron over abortion rights. Despite their differences, Meloni shares good harmony with the Pope on issues like migration and the traditional family. She has also expanded her alliances by inviting leaders from emerging economies to the G7 summit.
Some view Meloni as a potential European leader, filling the void left by Merkel and challenging Macron’s bid. However, she still has a long way to go to establish strong leadership within the EU. Meloni aims to empower the European right and unify around common points like immigration, while also addressing internal challenges in Italy to break free from the label of radical politics.