Giorgia Meloni could become Italy’s first woman leader – and its first far-right one since Mussolini
- Italy holds a general election on Sunday to elect a new parliament and determine who next governs the country
- Georgia Meloni is on track to become Italy’s first far-right premier since the end of World War II
Giorgia Meloni has been called a fascist, an extremist and – to an extent – a de facto heir to 20th century dictator Benito Mussolini.
She also seems well on her way to becoming Italy’s next prime minister, favoured by many voters weary of the country’s fractious politics and resigned to trying someone new. New, and highly controversial.
Italy, which has seen seven governments in 11 years, holds parliamentary elections on Sunday. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has been leading pre-election polls. If it prevails, she would become the nation’s first woman prime minister – and first far-right leader since Mussolini.
Her anticipated victory highlights Italy’s conflicted relationship with its fascist past. Many voters interviewed here at a recent fundraising dinner for Meloni indicated their support for her was not ideological but the product of general frustration with national politics.
The trend is seen across Europe. This month in Sweden, the ultraconservative Sweden Democrats party took a surprising 20 per cent of the vote.
In France, Marine Le Pen, a second-generation right-winger and perennial presidential candidate, has seen support increase with every new election.
