Giorgia Meloni was elected to be the first female prime minister of Italy. Aligned with the Brothers of Italy party, she is the most conservative prime minister since WWII. Her party received 44% of the vote. The voter turnout, only 64%, was a record low with speculations of interference from past governments.
Not even a week into her new position, media outlets worldwide are labeling her a “fascist,” “racist” and a “nationalist.” The accusations are primarily derived from her alliance with the Brothers of Italy and a speech she gave in 2019.
In her 2019 speech, she declared some traditional values she holds. She spoke passionately about her views on the value of individual and familial identity.
Meloni is open about her opposition to immigration saying, “We won’t sign any document that’s not in our national interest, and it’s not in our national interest to sign our border protection policy over to the UN.”
Despite the accusation of being a fascist, former prime minister Matteo Renzi said in an interview with CNN that "There is not a danger for Italian democracy...fascism in Italy is absolutely fake news."
An older video of Meloni has resurfaced of her saying Mussilini was “a good politician, and everything he did, he did for Italy.” However, she has acknowledged the root of fascism in her party. She does not include herself in the “fascist cult” according to her memoir, I am Girogia.
Meloni ended her victory speech with a promise,
“Italy chose us,” Meloni said. “We will not betray it, as we never have.”
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