Giorgia Meloni, the hard-right leader who is due to be sworn in as Italy’s first female prime minister, won the election on a campaign built around a promise to block migrant ships and support for traditional “family values” and anti-LGBTQ themes.
She heads an alliance of far-right and center-right parties, her own Brothers of Italy chief among them, and is set to form the most right-wing government Italy has seen in decades. Meloni’s win in parliamentary elections last month suggests the allure of nationalism remains undimmed in Italy – but her vow to take the country on a hard-right turn still leaves many uncertain what will happen next.
The new government is made up of a coalition with two other right-wing leaders. One is Matteo Salvini, a former interior minister who became the darling of European nationalists after he block migrant ships from docking in Italian ports.
All three have played up their anti-migrant rhetoric ahead of the vote, with Salvini going as far as to suggest that vaccinations could be used to “deport” migrants.
Conte, meanwhile, has courted evangelical voters with his pledge to roll back legal protections for same-sex couples and unmarried couples, including those who have children together.
Meloni has also been vocal in her support for “family values”, saying she wants to make it easier for parents to stay at home with their children and vowing to reintroduce tax breaks for stay-at-home mothers.
The prime minister-designate has also promised to slash taxes for businesses and increase investment in infrastructure and research.
The hard-right leader’s election campaign was built around a promise to block migrant ships and support for traditional “family values.”
What will this mean for Italy? Only time will tell, but her victory suggests that the allure of nationalism remains strong in the country.
