Historic premiership: Giorgia Meloni reshapes Europe’s political landscape

Roger Cohen


On the eve of becoming the longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni reflected in a rare interview on her long journey from the post-Fascist right to the centre of European politics — a landscape she is actively reshaping.

By turns calm and combative, Meloni was both funny and fierce. "I should have gone into the theatre," she mused. "Imagine how much more fun I would have had! I don't know how I ended up here, but I did."

Her unlikely ascent has already had a powerful effect beyond Italy’s borders. "Melonization" — the process in which a post-Fascist party sheds the threat of violent authoritarianism to gain mainstream acceptance — has officially entered the political lexicon. With Marine Le Pen a strong candidate in France and the hard-right Alternative for Germany leading polls, the Meloni effect is about to be tested at the core of European integration.

Here are the takeaways from the interview, conducted in Italian in a lounge adjacent to Meloni’s Rome office.

Don't mess with Italy

The world's eighth-largest economy has long lived with being perceived as the least of the major powers, a dynamic Meloni is determined to alter. "I don't like the idea of a submissive Italy, an Italy that sees itself as lesser than others," she said, outlining her goal to achieve "a revolution of pride."

A born contrarian who joined the post-Fascist right at age 15 when it had no apparent chance of attaining power, she sees no reason Italy should not reinvent itself. "A 'No' is one of the things that mobilises me the most," she noted. "I think what got me here was the courage to stand on the uncomfortable side of history, to opt to be against the current."

Things tense with Trump

Given her national ambitions, Meloni bridled when US President Donald Trump suggested she had "begged" to be photographed beside him at the Group of 7 summit in France.

"It's evident that with Donald Trump, I believed things would be easier, given our convergence on immigration and woke culture," Meloni said. "Things have turned out otherwise."

In June, she became one of the few European leaders to hit back directly at Trump, declaring: "Italy and I never beg." Revealing that the two leaders have not spoken in several weeks, she hesitated when asked if communications would resume. "Well, we will see," she said, while adding that "the unity of the West is something very important" and that she does not decide Italian strategy based on personal relations.

Feminists fought wrong battles

Meloni, who chose to be called "il presidente" in the masculine form in Italian, believes traditional feminists have fought "the wrong battles" over measures like gender quotas.

"What interests me is whether I'm free to become president of the Council of Ministers," she said. "That's equality, not being called 'la presidenta.'"

Her famous rallying cry — "I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am Christian" — struck a chord, she explained, because millions felt "threatened in their most authentic, basic identity." It gave an accessible slogan to an underlying emotional rebellion, though she demurred when asked if she considered herself a feminist.

Economy better than Left's

Meloni reacted sharply when presented with left-wing criticism regarding her economic stewardship, pointing to key indicators including employment rates, inflation figures, illegal migrant landings, healthcare spending, and market spreads. "Tell me if they are not better!" she asserted, adding sarcastically, "But it's possible that I did nothing!"

Her political opponents offer a starkly different assessment. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, cited Italy’s modest economic growth rate of 0.5%, declining real wages, elevated energy costs, and struggling public healthcare systems as evidence of a "wasted historic opportunity."

Italian voters will deliver their verdict in the upcoming election.