Italy’s Far-Right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Populist Agenda Stalls Amidst Economic Woes and Personal Scandals
Italy’s first female Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, marked her one-year anniversary in power amidst a tumultuous political landscape and personal scandal. The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party has had to scale back her populist agenda in the face of an unstable economy and personal revelations surrounding her longtime partner, Andrea Giambruno. Giambruno, […] Italy's first female Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has faced economic difficulties amid personal scandals and accusations of sexual harassment. Her party leader, the Brothers of Italy, has had to abandon her populist agenda due to an unstable economy and the scandal surrounding her longtime partner, Andrea Giambruno. Despite this, Meloni still faces significant challenges on the political front, including a debt-to-GDP ratio of 144 percent and potential for escalating conflict in the Middle East, rising inflation, and increasing oil prices. She has faced criticism for introducing populist measures such as a tax on extra bank profits and loosening cash transaction limits, which have backfired, highlighting her government's lack of flexibility. Meloni's ability to form a far-right coalition in Europe appears less likely now than a year ago, due to her divergence from Viktor Orban of Hungary on Ukraine and nationalist parties in Poland and Spain.
Published : 2 years ago by Our Reporter in Politics
Italy’s first female Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, marked her one-year anniversary in power amidst a tumultuous political landscape and personal scandal. The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party has had to scale back her populist agenda in the face of an unstable economy and personal revelations surrounding her longtime partner, Andrea Giambruno.
Giambruno, a TV presenter, was caught on tape sexually harassing female colleagues, leading to Meloni announcing their split. In response to critics, Meloni stated, “P.S. For all those who hoped to weaken me by striking me at home, remember: as much as the drop can hope to break the rock, the rock remains rock and the drop is only water.”
The split may have resolved the immediate scandal, but Meloni still faces significant challenges on the political front. With a divided left-wing opposition, the Democratic Party president Elly Schein, and Giuseppe Conte, head of the populist Five Star Movement, failing to mount a united opposition, Meloni’s government has been afforded a degree of stability. Giovanni Orsina, director of the school of government at Luiss University in Rome, commented, “By Italian standards, we’re in a moment of unusual stability.”
However, the shaky economy remains a considerable challenge for Meloni. Inheriting a debt-to-GDP ratio of 144 percent, Meloni has little room for maneuvering. The potential for escalating conflict in the Middle East, rising inflation, and increasing oil prices threatens to exacerbate the country’s debt situation. This has forced Meloni to adhere to the economic plans laid out by her predecessor, Mario Draghi, which included receiving billions of euros in pandemic-recovery funds from the European Union with stringent conditions.
Attempts by Meloni to introduce populist measures, such as a tax on extra bank profits and loosening cash transaction limits, have backfired, highlighting her government’s lack of flexibility. Moreover, spending on future generations and initiatives to address the country’s declining birth rate has been insufficient, with measures such as criminalizing surrogacy and restricting rights for same-sex couples further complicating the issue.
On the immigration front, Meloni has faced criticism for criminalizing migration, extending detention periods for migrants, and pushing for a controversial EU deal with Tunisia to block African migrants from crossing to Italy. These policies have been decried as forms of extortion by critics and have raised concerns about human rights violations.
In contrast to the criticism, Meloni has found support among some quarters, with Jole Angelini, a call centre worker outside Rome, stating, “She’s the most passionate politician Italy has had in years.” Angelini credits Meloni’s party with bringing her son closer to the political mainstream, away from extreme far-right views. Furthermore, Meloni’s international efforts have been noted positively, with Enzo Moavero-Milanesi, a two-time former foreign minister, commenting that Meloni is seen as “having her finger on the pulse more.”
Despite these pockets of support, Meloni’s ability to form a far-right coalition in Europe appears less likely now than a year ago. Her divergence from political ally Viktor Orban of Hungary on Ukraine, coupled with the weakening of nationalist parties in Poland and Spain, has left her isolated on the European political stage.
Topics: Italy