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Prime Minister of Italy
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Giorgia Meloni (born 15 January 1977) is an Italian politician serving as the Prime Minister of Italy since 22 October 2022. She is the first woman to hold this office in the history of the Italian Republic. Since 2014, she has led the Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia, FdI), a national-conservative political party she co-founded in 2012. Born in Rome to Anna Paratore and Francesco Meloni, she was raised in the Garbatella district, a working-class neighborhood. Her father left the family when she was a young child, and she was raised primarily by her mother. Meloni’s early political consciousness began at the age of 15 when she joined the Youth Front, the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a neo-fascist party. She later became active in student politics, founding "Gli Antenati" ("The Ancestors"), a student group that protested against public education reforms. In 1996, she became a leader of Student Action, a student movement associated with the National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale), the successor to the MSI. Meloni’s parliamentary career began in 2006 when she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. Her administrative experience expanded in 2008 when she was appointed Minister of Youth in the fourth government of Silvio Berlusconi. At age 31, she became the youngest minister in the history of the unified Italian state. She held this position until 2011, when the Berlusconi government resigned amid a financial crisis. In December 2012, Meloni co-founded the Brothers of Italy alongside Ignazio La Russa and Guido Crosetto. The party, which claims ideological roots in Italian national conservatism, struggled for electoral traction in its early years but gained significant momentum over the next decade. Meloni was elected president of the party in 2014 and led it through various electoral cycles, serving as the only major opposition party during the tenure of the Draghi government (2021–2022). This positioning allowed the party to consolidate its base and ultimately win the 2022 Italian general election. On 22 October 2022, following the coalition’s victory, Meloni was sworn in as Prime Minister by President Sergio Mattarella. Meloni’s political ideology is often characterized as right-wing to far-right, emphasizing national sovereignty, traditional family values, and opposition to illegal immigration. Her platform frequently cites the motto "Dio, patria, famiglia" ("God, fatherland, family"). While her party has historical roots in post-fascist movements, Meloni has sought to distance her administration from extremist labels, defining her approach to the European Union as "Eurorealist"—favoring a Europe of independent nations rather than federalism. In foreign policy, she has maintained a staunchly Atlanticist position, particularly regarding strong support for Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion, marking a departure from some of the more isolationist rhetoric observed in other European populist movements. In her personal life, Meloni has a daughter, Ginevra, and was in a long-term relationship with journalist Andrea Giambruno until 2023. She has a sister, Arianna Meloni, who is also active in political affairs. In 2024, she was recognized by Time magazine and Forbes as one of the most influential figures globally, reflecting her position as a central, if polarizing, figure in contemporary European politics.
First female Prime Minister in the history of the Italian Republic (2022–Present)
Successfully stabilized the traditionally highly volatile Italian political system, managing a complex right-wing coalition government
Brokered the controversial 'Mattei Plan' and the Italy-Albania migration pact, attempting to externalize European asylum processing to combat illegal Mediterranean crossings
Frequently criticized by domestic and international human rights organizations for her administration's rollback of LGBTQ+ parental rights (specifically regarding birth certificates for same-sex couples)
Her party's historical lineage, which traces back to the post-WWII neo-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI), subjects her to perpetual accusations of harboring authoritarian sympathies, despite her explicit public condemnation of fascism
Clashed heavily with NGOs operating migrant rescue ships in the Mediterranean, passing decrees to severely limit their operational capabilities
News articles featuring Giorgia Meloni
President of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party
Joined the Youth Front, the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), in 1992.
Became the national leader of Student Action in 1996.
Elected as a councillor of the province of Rome in 1998, serving until 2002.
Elected president of Youth Action (Azione Giovani), the youth wing of the National Alliance, in 2004, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 2006 and appointed as the youngest vice-president of the Chamber in its history.
Appointed Minister for Youth Policies in 2008, becoming the youngest minister in the history of the Italian Republic at age 31.
Co-founded the political party Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) on December 21, 2012.
Elected president of Brothers of Italy in 2014.
Elected president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party in 2020.
Sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Italy on October 22, 2022.
Since taking office, Prime Minister Meloni has faced criticism and concerns from press freedom organizations over her frequent use of defamation lawsuits against journalists and public figures. Notably, she has pursued legal action against author Roberto Saviano for calling her a 'bastard' regarding her stance on migration, and against journalist Giulia Cortese for social media posts mocking the Prime Minister's height.
Meloni's administration has faced significant backlash from LGBTQ+ rights groups for policies perceived as discriminatory toward same-sex families. In 2023, the government instructed municipalities to stop registering both parents in same-sex couples on birth certificates, limiting recognition to only the biological parent.
Throughout her political career, Meloni has been frequently questioned regarding the neo-fascist origins of her party, 'Brothers of Italy,' which traces its roots to the Italian Social Movement (MSI). While she has publicly disavowed totalitarian regimes, critics frequently cite her use of rhetoric such as 'God, homeland, family' and the party's continued use of the tricolor flame symbol as echoes of Italy's fascist past.
The Meloni government has faced accusations of exerting undue influence over Italy's public broadcaster, RAI. Critics, including opposition politicians and media watchdogs, have raised concerns about censorship and editorial pressure, exemplified by the abrupt cancellation of an anti-fascist monologue scheduled for broadcast in 2024.
In late 2023, Meloni's personal life became the subject of public scrutiny and political commentary after she publicly separated from her long-term partner, Andrea Giambruno. This followed a controversy in which Giambruno, a television journalist, was caught making lewd and sexist on-air comments, which opponents used to criticize the 'traditional family values' platform promoted by Meloni's party.