The appointment of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last year raised concerns in many quarters, notably in the European Union (EU). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen even warned Italy of possible “consequences” if it deviated from democratic principles.[1] Despite all the criticism, Meloni has, contrary to expectations, demonstrated leadership in line with democratic standards and EU rules.
Meloni made it a priority to reassure foreign allies of Italy’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His tough stance, especially in the face of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, was quite different from what Europe expected. In his first speech to parliament as prime minister, he stated that “giving in to Putin’s blackmail on energy will not solve the problem”. [2]
Meloni is said to have triumphed over the previous leaders and emancipated himself. Meloni strengthened her relations with Europe with her visit to Brussels and meetings with EU officials as soon as she took office. Political analyst Massimo Franco said that Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, won a victory over Salvini and Berlusconi and emancipated herself. [3]Franco said that fears about Italy’s democracy were “exaggerated” and that Meloni was the guarantor of the constitution.
Meloni is in his second year as Prime Minister of Italy. The government under Meloni’s leadership came to the agenda with internal immigration policies and economic regulations. After the first year, an effort towards constitutional reform was emphasized in order to increase the stability of the government. However, the government’s policies and Meloni’s personal attitudes were criticized, especially in foreign policy. The struggle with short-lived governments continues in Italy. The government’s vote of confidence and popular support have an important role to play as an indicator of its efforts to achieve the stability expected under Meloni’s leadership.
While Meloni’s political background and the roots of his party contain nostalgic elements of Benito Mussolini, Meloni argues that they have a very different vision. Meloni’s statements about what happened in Nazi-occupied Rome reflect an effort to raise awareness of historical responsibility.
The polls show that Meloni enjoys significant popular support. Since becoming Prime Minister, Meloni has topped polls among voters with close to 30% of the vote, compared to 26% for his party in the 2022 elections.[4] . However, criticism persists. In his second year, Meloni has pledged to work for a constitutional reform that would allow the prime minister’s office to be directly elected by voters, in the hope of creating more stable governments.
While Meloni’s future constitutional reform efforts have the potential to bring about further changes in the political arena, they are still likely to be subject to various criticisms. In this context, the future policies of the government under Meloni’s leadership and its impact on the public will be important factors determining Italy’s political landscape.
[1] Lisa Jucca, “Meloni’s Italian Job Is A Lesson For EU’s Right”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/melonis-italian-job-is-lesson-eus-right-2023-09-26/ (Erişim Tarihi: 18.10.2023).
[2] Same page.
[3] Frances D’emilio, “Italy’s Far-Right Premier Meloni Defies Fears Of Harming Democracy And Clashing With The EU”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/italy-meloni-farright-migrants-2b3fc3bb92058eff65a7b38fa639693c, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.10.2023).
[4] Same place
