Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, has been at the center of controversy after Petteri Orpo, chairman of the coalition and Prime Minister of Finland, praised her as cooperative and pro-European. However, Orpo also noted that Meloni’s neo-fascist background is not acceptable. This statement raises questions about the direction of European politics and calls for a closer examination of her leadership.
Meloni began her political career at the age of 15 by joining the youth department of MSI (Movimento Sociale Italiano), a party founded by Benito Mussolini after World War II. Although MSI no longer exists as an official party, its supporters still gather for events. Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), is based on neo-fascist ideals. She has not shied away from her admiration for Mussolini in the past.
As Prime Minister, Meloni’s government has been described as extreme right-wing, with concerns about her proposed constitutional amendments that could concentrate power in the Prime Minister’s office. Her government has also been criticized for its lack of support for Ukraine and its actions against sexual minorities and freedom of the press. Despite Petteri Orpo’s praise for Meloni’s involvement in helping Ukraine, experts have warned about authoritarian tendencies in her government and its similarity to leaders like Viktor Orbán.
The European Commission and European People’s Party are considering cooperation with Italy under Meloni’s leadership. However, this raises concerns about the direction of European politics and whether it will lead to further erosion of democracy, freedom of the press, and minority rights in Italy.
In conclusion, while Giorgia Meloni tries to present herself as a pro-European leader, her actions and policies have raised red flags among experts and critics. The growing concerns about democracy erosion under her government call for a closer examination of her leadership and its implications for Europe.
