Populist party Fratelli d’Italia triumphed in Italy’s parliamentary elections last weekend, paving the way for the country’s first female prime minister. Giorgio Meloni owes her victory to her charisma, a highly successful political campaign, and a smart coalition with Italy’s other other right-wing parties. Various media outlets, particularly those outside Italy, have interpreted her victory as a sign of mounting fascism, pointing to Meloni’s early membership with a neo-fascist movement. She also referred to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a ‘good politician’ in a 1996 interview on French television. According to political scientist Andrej Zaslove, there is no cause for concern.
Are there not traces of fascism in her party?
"Yes, but the key word here is traces, which date back to the 1980s and 1990s. Admittedly, some members of her party have made fascist statements in the past, but Meloni was quick to distance herself from them. A more appropriate label for the party would be right-wing conservative. It’s reassuring to see politicians and parties with fascist roots approach their past with extreme caution. One political theory suggests that parties without these roots tend to absorb fascist and other radical ideas more easily. Call her a nationalist or a champion for conservative ideals on issues like abortion and immigration, but don’t call her a fascist."
What caused such a landslide victory?
"I don’t think ‘landslide' is the best description. The Italian electoral system rewards coalition-building, which is something Meloni cleverly accomplished by joining forces with the country’s two other right-wing parties. She owes much of her victory to her talent as a politician and to her consistent narrative. She represents a strong ideology that dates back several decades. She also benefited from a historically low election turnout. Meloni had an excellent response to the major social and economic problems plaguing her country. As a relative outsider, it was easy for her to deliver a convincing message that she could do things differently."
Was the Italian left, much like the Dutch left, unable to present a good alternative?
"Worse: the Partito Democratico was the elephant in the room that helped secure Meloni’s win. They could have done the same on the left as Meloni did on the right, but they didn’t trust the Five Star Movement, believing it wasn’t left-wing enough. That’s ridiculous, of course. A left-wing coalition could have resulted in a very different election outcome."
Is this right-wing victory cause for concern in terms of abortion, migration or poverty policies?
"There may be some cause for concern, but not necessarily because Meloni is in power. The conservative stance on issues like migration and abortion has been decades in the making; the damage has already been done. But with Meloni at the helm, it certainly won’t get better."
Is it too early for Euro-sceptics to celebrate? Orban was one of the first to congratulate Meloni on her win.
"While it’s true that Meloni’s ultra-right stance - the most radical in Italy since the Second World War - adds a new dimension to Europe, she knows all too well how much her country needs the EU; just look at the financial support measures during the COVID-19 pandemic alone. There are far more reasons to believe in the continuity of the relationship than its demise."
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