Giorgia Meloni: Prime Minister of Italy
Political Career:
Prime Minister of Italy:
Giorgia Meloni has been serving as the Prime Minister of Italy since October 22, 2022, making her the first woman to hold this position.
Chamber of Deputies:
A member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2006.
Political Party Leadership:
Meloni has led the Brothers of Italy (FdI) political party since 2014.
European Conservatives and Reformists Party:
She has been the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party since 2020.
Early Political Activism:
Youth Front and Student Action:
In 1992, Meloni joined the Youth Front, the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement (MSI). She later became the national leader of Student Action, the student movement of the National Alliance (AN).
Councillor and President:
Elected councillor of the Province of Rome in 1998, she became the president of Youth Action, the AN youth wing, in 2004.
Italian Minister of Youth:
Appointed as the Italian Minister of Youth in the fourth Berlusconi government in 2008, a position she held until 2011.
Founding of Brothers of Italy (FdI):
Co-founder:
In 2012, Meloni co-founded Brothers of Italy (FdI), which is considered a legal successor to the National Alliance (AN).
Party President:
Became the president of FdI in 2014.
Election Attempts:
Unsuccessfully ran in the 2014 European Parliament election and the 2016 Rome municipal election.
Political Positions:
Right-wing Populist and Nationalist:
Meloni is known for her right-wing populist and nationalist political positions.
Christian and Conservative:
Describes herself as a Christian and a conservative, advocating for “God, fatherland, and family.”
Stances:
Opposes euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and LGBT parenting. Supports nuclear families headed by male-female pairs.
Femonationalist Rhetoric:
Her discourse includes femonationalist rhetoric and criticism of globalism.
Policy Positions:
Supports a naval blockade to halt immigration, has been accused of xenophobia and Islamophobia.
Eurosceptic Views:
Maintains Eurosceptic views regarding the European Union, which she describes as Eurorealist.
International Relations:
Initially supported better relations with Russia but pledged to keep sending arms to Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion.
Controversies:
Views on Giorgio Almirante:
In 2020, Meloni praised Giorgio Almirante, a chief of cabinet in Mussolini’s Italian Social Republic, leading to controversy.
Personal Life:
Birth and Family:
Born in Rome on January 15, 1977. Raised in the working-class district of Garbatella.
Family Background:
Her father, Francesco Meloni, had communist sympathies and later faced legal issues.
Upbringing:
Described as impoverished; her family’s breakdown influenced her political outlook.
Education:
Graduated from l’Istituto tecnico professionale di Stato Amerigo Vespucci in 1996. Controversy surrounds her claimed high school diploma in languages.
Giorgia Meloni’s political journey reflects a trajectory from early activism in far-right movements to becoming the Prime Minister of Italy, with a political platform rooted in right-wing populism, nationalism, and conservative values. Her leadership has been marked by both popularity and controversy.