Far-Right? ... Female Prime Minister with Flexible Leadership Rises to Europe's Most Influential Position

Italian Prime Minister Meloni Ranked Most Influential Figure in Europe
"Can Do Business Not Only in Europe but Also with the US"
Gains Attention for Immigration Policy and Ukraine Support

Contrary to international concerns at the time of her inauguration, Giorgia Meloni, the far-right Italian Prime Minister, has been selected as the most influential figure in Europe due to her stable governance. Even Keir Starmer, the left-leaning British Prime Minister, is striving to benchmark Meloni's policies.

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy. Yonhap News

On the 11th (local time), the political media outlet Politico selected 28 of the most influential figures in Europe, naming Prime Minister Meloni as number one. Politico stated, "Meloni, once dismissed as a far-right extremist, has established herself within less than a decade as a figure capable of doing business not only with the European Union (EU) but also with the United States," adding, "When Elon Musk wants to communicate with Europe, he calls Meloni."

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Prime Minister Meloni were spotted exchanging affectionate glances at the 13th 'World Citizen Award' held in New York, USA, last September, which became a hot topic. However, Musk personally clarified that "there was no romantic relationship."

After founding Brothers of Italy (FdI) in 2012, Meloni led the party to victory in the September 2022 general election, becoming Italy's first female Prime Minister. In Italy, where the average government lifespan is about 13 months, Meloni has been leading a stable coalition government with Lega and Forza Italia (FI) for over two years.

Politico reported, "Since taking office, Meloni has performed an impressive balancing act," noting, "While leading the 'European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR),' a far-right and anti-EU political group in the European Parliament, she has minimized negative rhetoric towards the EU and avoided unnecessary conflicts."

Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, and Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. Photo by Yonhap News

Although Meloni was once friendly towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, she has shown a progressive stance by becoming a strong supporter of Ukraine following Russia's invasion, unlike other far-right European factions. Regarding Europe's chronic immigration issues, she has cooperated with the EU while pushing plans to send immigrants entering Italy to migrant centers in neighboring Albania. Prime Minister Starmer even visited Italy to learn from this policy. Politico noted, "With traditional powers like France and Germany effectively weakened, the Italian Prime Minister is securing room to advance her policies."

Besides naming Meloni as the overall most influential figure, Politico evaluated individuals in three categories: Activists, Disruptors, and Dreamers. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was ranked first in the Activists category; Friedrich Merz, leader of the main opposition Christian Democratic Union and a leading candidate for the next German Chancellor, topped the Disruptors category; and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was selected as number one in the Dreamers category.

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