MILAN, Italy: With a pragmatic approach to relations in Brussels, Giorgia Meloni of Italy is often seen as the “moderate” face of Europe’s radical right, leading the charge for June elections.
The rise to power of Meloni’s post-fascist, eurosceptic Brothers of Italy in 2022 rattled the European Union, raising concerns about a rightward shift in a founding member of both the bloc and NATO. However, her strong support for Ukraine has garnered Meloni allies in Washington and Brussels, particularly after her efforts to persuade Hungary’s Viktor Orban, a longtime ally sympathetic to Moscow, to drop his veto of EU aid to Kyiv.
Meloni has worked closely with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, particularly on migration, a key focus for the far-right leader. Lorenzo Castellani, a political analyst at Rome’s LUISS University, notes her efforts to present herself as a moderate conservative and mediator within the radical right at the European level.
Domestically, Meloni has pursued a nationalist populist agenda centered on traditional family values, law and order, and migration, including crackdowns on rescue ships in the central Mediterranean. While this has drawn criticism from the Italian left, particularly regarding attempts to influence the RAI public broadcaster, it has yet to cause alarm in Brussels, unlike judicial reforms in Hungary and Poland.
In terms of fiscal policy, Meloni has maintained relative prudence, reflecting the constraints of being part of the EU’s single currency. Castellani suggests she aims to be the acceptable extreme for the European political establishment, likening her to “the last island before the border.”
As the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament, Meloni’s stance on Ukraine and NATO aligns with the Brussels establishment more than the eurosceptic Identity and Democracy group (ID), which includes far-right parties like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France and Germany’s AfD. This pragmatic approach has benefited both Rome and Brussels, with Meloni credited for extracting concessions from the EU, particularly regarding migration issues.
While Meloni claims credit for a tougher EU stance on migration, analysts note that this shift was underway before her arrival. Nevertheless, her popularity among voters stems from her perceived credibility, particularly as a fresh face in Italian politics who did not join Mario Draghi’s government.
Despite divisions within her coalition, notably with Matteo Salvini’s League, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy has surpassed the League in popularity. Surveys indicate support for Meloni’s foreign policy, though opinions on her migration efforts vary. With the opposition still divided, Meloni could potentially remain in power for a full five-year term, though the political landscape may shift, especially if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November.
