Italy took a sharp turn to the right on Monday after Giorgia Meloni’s Eurosceptic populist party swept to victory in general elections, putting the one-time Mussolini admirer on course to become the first woman to lead the country. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, looked set to win 26% in Sunday’s election, while her wider coalition secured a clear majority in parliament.
With former premier Silvio Berlusconi, who has long been friends with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and Matteo Salvini‘s far-right League, they will now begin forming the most right-wing government since World War II, a process likely to take weeks. Meloni, 45, used her first public statement in the early hours of Monday morning to emphasise unity, saying she would govern “for all Italians”.
With former premier Silvio Berlusconi, who has long been friends with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and Matteo Salvini‘s far-right League, they will now begin forming the most right-wing government since World War II, a process likely to take weeks. Meloni, 45, used her first public statement in the early hours of Monday morning to emphasise unity, saying she would govern “for all Italians”.
