Italy's First Far-Right Prime Minister in 100 Years... Meloni to Take Oath on 22nd

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina]In Italy, an extreme right-wing prime minister has emerged 100 years after dictator Benito Mussolini established the fascist regime. She is also Italy's first female prime minister.

According to the Italian Presidential Office, on the 21st (local time), President Sergio Mattarella appointed Giorgia Meloni (45), leader of Brothers of Italy (FdI), as prime minister and entrusted her with the authority to form a government. Ugo Zampetti, Chief of the Presidential Office, confirmed, "Giorgia Meloni accepted the mandate to form a government and submitted the list of ministers."

Accordingly, Italy's first female prime minister and the first extreme right-wing prime minister in 100 years since Mussolini took office as prime minister in 1922 has been born. The FdI led by Prime Minister-designate Meloni is considered the successor to the National Fascist Party (PNF) founded by Mussolini. Known as the so-called 'fascist prime minister,' she is a representative far-right politician who has solidified her position by advocating anti-immigration, anti-refugee, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-European integration policies.

On this day, Prime Minister-designate Meloni submitted a list of 24 ministers, one more than the previous government, to President Mattarella and obtained approval. Giancarlo Giorgetti, current Minister of Economic Development, was named Minister of Finance; Antonio Tajani, former President of the European Parliament, was named Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Guido Crosetto, co-founder of FdI, was named Minister of Defense.

Prime Minister-designate Meloni will take the oath of office at 10 a.m. on the 22nd at the Quirinale Palace, the presidential residence in Rome, along with the 24 ministers. The new cabinet will officially launch after a confidence vote in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies next week.

President Mattarella said the government formation negotiations took only a month, explaining, "It was possible because the election results were very clear." In the early general election held on the 25th of last month, Prime Minister-designate Meloni formed a right-wing coalition with Matteo Salvini's League (Lega), former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI), and others, winning 115 out of 200 seats in the Senate and 237 out of 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, achieving a landslide victory. Since the right-wing coalition controls both houses, it is highly likely that the confidence vote will pass unless there is a rebellion vote.

However, it is reported that representatives of centrist and left-wing parties who met with President Mattarella the day before expressed opposition, stating that if the far-right Meloni is appointed prime minister, abortion rights may be restricted and the human rights of sexual minorities could be threatened.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.