Antonino Galofaro, edited by Gauthier Delomez
If the far-right party candidate Giorgia Meloni claims victory in the legislative elections, her appointment as head of government has not yet been officially confirmed, even if it is a virtual certainty. There is a whole political process before this appointment, and the President of the Republic could hinder the appointment of a minister.
Giorgia Meloni is not yet officially the first woman to be appointed Prime Minister in Italy. But the candidate of the far-right Fratelli d’Italia party, who largely won the legislative elections on Sunday, has every chance of becoming one under the tacit settlement of rights. The coalition party that wins the most votes chooses the candidate to be President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni in this case.
However, it is necessary to wait a little longer for his appointment to be official due to the Italian political system. Italy is a parliamentary republic, which is why we must first wait for the new parliament to meet for the first time, on 13 October next.
The central role of the President of the Republic
Then, only after consultation with the parties, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella should have no choice but to entrust Giorgia Meloni with forming a government. This is where we understand why the Italians are not as worried, unlike foreign countries, about the arrival of the far right in power.
The Head of State, a real safeguard, can reserve the right, for example, to refuse the appointment of a minister. This was the case in 2018, with an anti-euro candidate for the Economy. Italians, however, are a bit more worried about rights issues like abortion, which a far-right administration could easily hamper. In France, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne assured that she would be “attentive” to “respect” for human rights and the right to abortion on the other side of the Alps.