Giorgia Meloni: surprisingly successful, surprisingly failed

Giorgia Meloni in the Federal Chancellery, in the White House, in front of the United Nations: Italy’s Prime Minister has become a fixture in international politics. What a difference from September a year ago: When her ultra-right party Fratelli d’Italia won the election, half of Europe asked itself how to deal with Meloni. It has been resolved. At a recent meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the refugee island of Lampedusa, there were even kisses on the cheek.

Meloni complains about “24 hour rollercoaster”

At home in Rome, in a coalition with two other right-wing parties, the 46-year-old is undisputedly number one. After twelve months, the survey results are still correct – by no means a given, especially not in Italy. The Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy, named after the first line of the national anthem, with roots in the post-fascist movement) are at about 28 percent, two points above the election result.

The “most dangerous woman in Europe”, as we say star what they called a year ago is here to stay. In the magazine “Chi” the mother of a seven-year-old daughter complained that her days now consisted of “24 hours of roller coaster.” “Sometimes you wish you could get out, stop for a moment and go back to normal life. But that only comes to mind for a few moments and then it’s gone again.”

The current legislative period lasts until 2027. Italian heads of government can never really last that long. You can trust the right-wing nationalist to do that. She has largely brought the state television broadcaster RAI into line. Some people are already making fun of “Tele-Meloni”. There is little to fear from private television. Many channels belong to the family of Silvio Berlusconi, who co-governed Forza Italia until his death in June.

Figurehead of Europe’s “new right”?

The other coalition partner, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini’s Lega, has not yet caused any significant problems. In addition, the left opposition is still very busy with itself. Most people are therefore preparing for Meloni to actually stay longer. Some even speculate that she could become the figurehead of a “new right” in Europe. Experience also shows that such forecasts can prove to be deceptive.

Some are of the opinion that Italy will have a hot autumn. Not because of foreign policy. Meloni is pursuing a very pragmatic course here. The shrill tones from the election campaign, when she blamed the EU for almost everything bad, have disappeared. This is also related to the poor state of state finances: Meloni absolutely needs the almost 200 billion euros that the EU founding member was promised to deal with the consequences of Corona.

In the Ukraine war, it is reliably on the side of its Western partners against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The course has changed towards Beijing, also in accordance with the partners: Meloni is currently trying to get out of China’s “New Silk Road” project, where Italy is currently the only large western industrial nation to take part.

Defaulting on election promises

The fact that the mood could change is linked to other issues – especially migration. During the election campaign, Meloni promised to end the “invasion from Africa”. The opposite has happened: Since the beginning of January, more than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Italy – twice as many as a year ago. On the small island of Lampedusa there were more than 5,000 on a single day in September. There are also disputes with the EU partners, including Germany.

The newspaper “La Repubblica” headlined “The Black Year”. Meloni has failed across the board with migration policy. The head of government herself now admitted in the RAI: ​​”The results are not what we hoped for.” Now she has tightened her tone again. The possible detention of migrants pending deportation has been extended to the EU maximum of 18 months. In addition, more deportation centers are to be built. At the United Nations, she called for a “global war” to be declared on human traffickers.

But Meloni is also behind on other election promises. Italy’s economy shrank in the second quarter. Added to this is inflation. There is still no minimum wage. She received criticism because 170,000 recipients of “citizen’s money” were informed via cell phone message that social assistance would be canceled. Many people also don’t like the very traditional family image of the Fratelli d’Italia. Incidentally, Meloni himself lives with the TV journalist Andrea Giambruno without a marriage certificate.