After her party’s historic victory in the legislative elections in September, Giorgia Meloni should officially become the first woman to hold the position of president of the council in Italy. This 45-year-old Roman, who managed to “demonize” the post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia party to come to power exactly a century after Mussolini, met on the morning of Friday 21 October with the President of the Republic, Sergio Matteralla, in the context of the consultations preceding the appointment of a government.
Consultations, started on Thursday, which should lead to the expected appointment of Mr.me Meloni, whose coalition dominated by the extreme right has an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
During a flash meeting, Giorgia Meloni proposed to the president that he entrust him with the formation of the government. “We are awaiting the decision of the President of the Republic and we are already ready, we want to proceed as quickly as possible”she said after the interview, referring to a “important moment for the nation”.
On Thursday, the new leader of the Italian far right said in a tweet that she was ready “to give Italy a government that faces the urgencies and challenges of our time with conscience and competence”.
Domani, insieme a tutta la coalizione del centrodestra, saliremo al @Quirinale per le #consultazioni con il Preside… https://t.co/5RV1OUqAbD
Forced to juggle rambunctious allies
At a time when the third largest economy in the euro zone, like its neighbors, is facing a difficult economic situation due to the energy crisis and inflation, its task promises to be difficult, especially since it will have to manage two turbulent allies: Matteo Salvini , the populist leader of the League, an anti-migrant party, and Silvio Berlusconi, the declining leader of Forza Italia.
The two men, who arrived separately with their respective delegations at the Quirinal Palace on Friday, are reluctant to accept the authority of Giorgia Meloni, whose party won 26% of the vote in the September 25 elections, against only 8% for Forza Italia and 9 % for the League.
Even before the appointment of Mr.me Meloni, the media of the Peninsula echoed the multiple passes of arms between the three leaders on the distribution of positions in Parliament and within the future government.
Herself an Atlanticist and in favor of supporting Ukraine against Russia, she had to face this week the polemical remarks of Mr. Berlusconi, who claimed to have “renewed” with Vladimir Putin and blamed kyiv for the war.
Statements of the worst effect while the coming to power of this predominantly Eurosceptic coalition is closely followed by the chancelleries. Mme Meloni felt compelled to make amends on Wednesday, saying Italy are doing “fully gone” of Europe and NATO.
“God, Country, Family”
The composition of his government should also reflect this desire to reassure Rome’s partners. Former European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, a member of Forza Italia, is the favorite for foreign affairs, and Giancarlo Giorgetti, a representative of the moderate wing of the League who was already a minister in the outgoing government of Mario Draghi, holds the rope for the economy.
Talented speaker, Mme Meloni, a conservative Christian anti-LGBTQ+ rights with the motto “God, country, family”, however, promised not to touch the law allowing abortion.
Mme Meloni and his ministers could be sworn in this weekend before the President of the Republic before tackling the many challenges that await them.
Record inflation
Inflation in the Peninsula increased in September by 8.9% over one year and Italy risks entering a technical recession next year, alongside Germany. Room for maneuver is limited by a colossal debt representing 150% of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest ratio in the euro zone after Greece.
Eurosceptic, Giorgia Meloni has given up campaigning for an exit from the euro, but she has promised to further defend her country’s interests in Brussels. And this, while growth depends on nearly 200 billion euros in grants and loans granted by the European Union as part of its post-pandemic recovery fund.
Wedged between the hammer of its “allies” and the Brussels anvil and markets, Mme Meloni already appears on the razor’s edge even before taking office, almost a tradition in a country known for its chronic governmental instability.