Concerns Rise as Giorgia Meloni’s Far-Right Coalition Wins in Italy

Giorgia Meloni holds up a sign that says “thank you Italy” at her party’s headquarters.

Giorgia Meloni, a far-right candidate for Italy’s 2022 election, won and claimed her position as the new prime minister. As the first female prime minister in Italy, Meloni leads a strong far-right government which is expected to be the most far-right in Italy since World War II. 

Leading up to the election, Meloni claimed to be a leader for all and someone who would unify Italy's people. She also ran under her slogan, “God, family, and homeland,” words that eerily resemble the era of Mussolini. Her ties to the Brothers of Italy party, one with roots in fascism, also raise concerns throughout the world about what her win could mean for the future of Italy and Europe. This election also raises the question of how her far-right government could impact the situation in Ukraine and Russia. 

Concerns regarding Italy’s future are driven by Meloni’s desire to preserve Christianity and a “traditional” style of family, which critics warn could be a perspective that promotes exclusion and puts civil rights in danger. She opposes  abortion, same-sex marriage, and immigration. In a recent debate with Enrico Letta, a leader of a center-left Democratic party, she argued against the rights of same-sex couples to adopt children, claiming that the children have to be raised by a mother and father figure. 

For years leading up to the election, Meloni strongly opposed Italy’s immigration policies, claiming they were too lenient and turning Italy into a “refugee camp.” These harsh words matched her policy plan to block humanitarian rescue boats from being able to dock in Italy, an action that would lead these vessels toward other Mediterranean countries. On economic policy, she supports the idea of Italy relying on itself and rejects  globalization. Despite the growing environmental problem, Meloni promoted the idea of gas drilling in the Adriatic Sea and building a gas pipeline to Spain. 

Meloni’s position on the war in Ukraine is also troubling. Although she critized Russia’s aggression and pledged full support to Ukraine and NATO,  her coalition partners refrained from joining her, which sparks doubt about her party’s stance on the issue.  Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi appeared to be an apologist for Putin, stating that “Putin was pushed by the Russian population” to initiate the invasion of Ukraine. 

While Matteo Salvini used to wear shirts with Putin’s face on them, and has had to reject claims that he took money from Moscow multiple times. Yet when Salvini doubted the rationality of sanctions on Russia, Meloni sat near him visibly uncomfortable. Critics say that it will be important for Meloni to deal with the divided opinions of her coalition, as any shifting stance on sanctions could pose divisions in the European Union, as well as the US and the rest of Europe. 

Giorgia Meloni pictured with Silvio Berlusconi, the Forza Italia party leader. Photo: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

Other leaders around the world cautiously responded to Meloni’s victory. President Emmanuel Macron of France stated that he respects Italy’s “democratic choice” and that both countries will continue to work together as neighbors. Meanwhile, France’s Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, said she would keep close attention to the status of human rights in Italy following Meloni’s election win– forshadowing tensions that could arise in the future between the two nations, as well as uncertainty for the strength of the European Union.